World Leaders Urge India, Pakistan To Explore Diplomacy To Defuse Tensions

The world cannot afford a military confrontation between India & Pakistan, says UN secretary general Antonio Guterres; I hope it ends quickly, says Donald Trump

- SHAHID K ABBAS

World leaders on Wednesday urged both India and Pakistan to exercise calm and maximum restraint in the wake of Operation Sindoor carried out by Indian armed forces targeting terror camps in Pakistan and PoK.

Expressing concerns over the escalation of tensions between the nuclear-armed neighbours, the world leaders urged both sides to resort to the option of dialogue and diplomacy to defuse tensions.

US President Donald Trump, who was among the first to react, described the situation as a "shame" and hoped that the tensions ended quickly.

"I am monitoring the situation between India and Pakistan closely. I echo @POTUS's (President of the United States's) comments earlier today that this hopefully ends quickly and will continue to engage both Indian and Pakistani leadership towards a peaceful resolution," US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a post on social media platform X.

Donald Trump also expressed hope for a swift de-escalation. "We just heard about it as we were walking through the doors of the Oval Office. They've been fighting for a long time. I just hope it ends very quickly," he said.

China also urged India and Pakistan to exercise restraint amid rising tensions.