Although New Delhi diplomatically dismissed US President Donald Trump’s invitation to mediate a dispute between India and Pakistan, the United States on Thursday appealed for “immediate de-escalation” and “direct dialogue” between the two bordering countries of South Asia.
Washington Leans Toward Islamabad’s Civilian Casualty Claims
The Trump Administration also seemed to have supported Islamabad’s assertion of civilians being killed in India’s offensive against terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied areas, while New Delhi asserted that Operation Sindoor only targeted terrorists on both sides of the Line of Control and the undisputed portion of the border between the two countries.
Washington, D.C., also asked Islamabad to “take concrete steps to end any support for terrorist groups”.
US Secretary of State Speaks to Both Indian and Pakistani Leadership
Trump’s Secretary of State Marco Rubio made a call to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar. He also called Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
“The secretary expressed sorrow for the reported loss of civilian lives in the current conflict. He reiterated his calls for Pakistan to take concrete steps to end any support for terrorist groups,” Tammy Bruce, the spokesperson of the US State Department, stated in a press release issued in Washington, D.C., after Rubio spoke to Sharif.
“The secretary reiterated his condolences for the horrific terrorist attack in Pahalgam and reaffirmed the United States’ commitment to work with India in the fight against terrorism,” Bruce said in another statement after Rubio called the external affairs minister Jaishankar in New Delhi.
During his phone call with Jaishankar, Rubio emphasised the need for “immediate de-escalation” between India and Pakistan.
He voiced US favor in direct talks between India and Pakistan and urged sustained efforts toward better communications, stated Bruce. He said the same.
The US secretary of state renewed his sympathies regarding the ghastly terrorist attack at Pahalgam and reiterated the Trump Administration’s commitment to cooperate with India in the battle against terrorism.
“Spoke with US @SecRubio this evening. Deeply appreciate the US commitment to work with India in the fight against terrorism. Underlined India’s targeted and measured response to cross-border terrorism. Will firmly counter any attempts at escalation,” Jaishankar posted on X.
Spoke with US @SecRubio this evening.
Deeply appreciate US commitment to work with India in the fight against terrorism.
Underlined India’s targeted and measured response to cross-border terrorism. Will firmly counter any attempts at escalation.
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— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) May 8, 2025
India Rejects US Mediation, Recalls Previous Stance
New Delhi previously thanked Trump but respectfully declined his offer to assist in easing tensions with Pakistan. New Delhi instead called on the Trump Administration in Washington, D.C., to request Islamabad to cease supporting terrorist groups.
“We are truly, truly thankful to President Trump. I think the best would be if our partners in the US would tell the Pakistanis to stop supporting these terrorists,” Vinay Mohan Kwatra, New Delhi’s envoy to Washington, D.C., told Fox News. He made the comment after Trump offered to help de-escalate tension between India and Pakistan.
During Trump’s first tenure in the Oval Office, New Delhi had rejected his offer to mediate between India and China. He had made the offer after the violent face-off between the soldiers of the Indian Army and the Chinese People’s Liberation Army at Galwan Valley on June 15, 2020.
India carried out missile strikes early on Wednesday, targeting the terrorist camps in Pakistan as well as in parts of India’s Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir illegally occupied by Pakistan. The ‘Operation Sindoor’ was launched a fortnight after 26 people were killed by a gang of Pakistani and Pakistan-trained terrorists at Baisaran near Pahalgam in J&K on April 22.
Trump Calls for Restraint After India’s Missile Strikes
“This operation that we carried out was aimed at bringing accountability and justice to those subhuman monsters, those worst of the worst, who carried out these terrible attacks on the 22nd of April,” Kwatra told the TV channel.
As India’s missile strikes on terrorist camps in areas under the control of Pakistan heightened tensions between the two South Asian nations, the Trump Administration urged New Delhi and Washington, D.C., to avoid escalation.
“It is so terrible. I get along with both. I know both very well. I want to see them work it out; I want to see them stop. Hopefully, they can stop now. They have done tit for tat,” Trump said, adding that the US had good relationships with both India and Pakistan.
India Upholds Bilateral Resolution Policy, Islamabad Suspends Treaties
New Delhi in the past spurned any move by any foreign leader or agency or any international agency to intervene between India and Pakistan.
New Delhi asserts that the 1972 Simla Agreement between India and Pakistan and the 1999 Lahore Declaration had left no room for the UN or any other third party to have any role in solving the “outstanding issues” between the two South Asian neighbours.
Islamabad has, however, recently suspended the Simla Agreement and all other bilateral treaties between India and Pakistan as a retaliatory step after New Delhi suspended the Indus Water Treaty, 1960, in retaliation against the terrorist attack.
