US Urges De-escalation in Talks With India, Pak

SECRETARY OF STATE Marco Rubio urged de-escalation and expressed support for direct dialogue in separate calls with external affairs minister S Jaishankar and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday, US State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said.

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Rubio, in both phone calls that took place, emphasized the need for immediate de-escalation," Bruce said in readouts of the calls.

"He expressed US support for direct dialogue between India and Pakistan and encouraged continued efforts to improve communications," Bruce said.