In the context of the escalating situation between India and Pakistan connected to the February 14 terror attack in Pulwama, the U.S. has called for stability and asked both India and Pakistan to cease all cross-border military activity, as per a statement from a State Department spokesperson.
“We urge both sides to take immediate steps to de-escalate the situation, including through direct communication. Further military activity will exacerbate the situation,” the statement read.
The statement, issued on February 27, came after news of Pakistani jets attacking locations in Jammu & Kashmir, and the capture of an Indian pilot who had ejected from his aircraft, which was hit by Pakistani fire, while he was flying across the LoC, chasing back the Pakistani jets.
The U.S., on February 27, asked Pakistan to end its support for terrorists and abide by its UN Security Council commitments. “Cross-border terrorism, such as the recent attack on India’s Central Reserve Police Force on February 14, poses a grave threat to the security of the region. We reiterate our call for Pakistan to abide by its United Nations Security Council commitments to deny terrorists safe haven and block their access to funds,” the statement read.
Earlier in the week, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo had said, via a statement, that he had spoken with the Foreign Ministers of both India and Pakistan and asked them to “prioritize direct communication and avoid further military activity”.