US urges India, Pakistan to de-escalate as tensions rise after drone clashes

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Thursday urged Pakistan and India to work together to reduce tensions, as the crisis between the two nuclear-armed neighbors deepened following deadly cross-border attacks.

In a phone call to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Rubio said the U.S. was "closely following the situation in South Asia" and was committed to promoting peace and stability in the region, according to a statement from Pakistan’s prime minister's office.

Rubio emphasized the need for both Pakistan and India to work closely to de-escalate the situation," the statement added.

However, a separate statement from the U.S. State Department noted that Rubio had also "reiterated his calls for Pakistan to take concrete steps to end any support for terrorist groups."

He also in the call with the Pakistani prime minister "expressed sorrow for the reported loss of civilian lives in the current conflict."

Shehbaz, for his part, condemned what he called India’s "missile and drone strikes" that he said killed 31 civilians, injured 57 others, and damaged civilian infrastructure in Pakistan. He said the attacks violated Pakistan’s sovereignty and "gravely jeopardized" regional peace.

The prime minister said Pakistan had the right to respond in self-defense under Article 51 of the United Nations Charter.

“The people of Pakistan are outraged by India’s unprovoked acts of war,” he said. “We reaffirm our firm resolve to defend our sovereignty and territorial integrity at all costs.”

He also welcomed President Donald Trump’s concern over the growing crisis.

The conversation came as Islamabad claimed it had inflicted heavy losses on Indian forces in recent fighting near the Line of Control, the de facto border dividing Kashmir between the two countries.

Information Minister Ata Tarar said earlier Thursday that Pakistan had killed 40 to 50 Indian soldiers in recent clashes and shot down 25 Indian drones over the past 24 hours.

Tarar accused India of launching its drone operations after suffering losses in direct ground engagements. He described Pakistan’s response as a “crushing defeat” for New Delhi.

India, however, presented a sharply different version of events. In a statement, the Indian Defense Ministry said its military had neutralized Pakistani attempts to target multiple military sites on Wednesday night. It also claimed to have struck Pakistani air defense systems in retaliation.

India also claims it targeted "terrorist camps" inside Pakistani territory, though both sides have reported civilian casualties, including children.

The sudden surge in hostilities followed an April 22 attack in the Pahalgam area of Indian-administered Kashmir, where 24 tourists—mostly Indian nationals—were killed by unknown gunmen.

India quickly blamed Pakistan, though investigations were still underway. Islamabad rejected the allegations, citing a lack of evidence and calling for an impartial probe.

In response to the Pahalgam killings, India suspended the Indus Waters Treaty — a longstanding water-sharing pact — and ordered Pakistani nationals to leave the country within 48 hours. Pakistan called these moves unlawful and provocative, warning that any attempt to alter the treaty unilaterally would be considered “an act of war.”

Adding to the tensions, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave the military “operational freedom” following the attack. Pakistan said it remains committed to peace but warned of a strong and lawful response to any hostile acts.

The Kashmir dispute has been at the heart of decades of conflict between India and Pakistan since their partition in 1947. Each side controls parts of the Himalayan territory but claims it in full.

An armed rebellion has continued in Indian-controlled Kashmir since 1989. India accuses Pakistan of supporting militants, a charge Islamabad denies, saying it only backs Kashmiris’ right to self-determination.

Both countries have fought three wars, two of them over Kashmir. Fears of a wider conflict have grown as diplomatic channels appear strained and military rhetoric intensifies on both sides.