US top diplomat Rubio speaks with Pakistan army chief, urges de-escalation

10/5/2025 12:23

The Group of Seven (G7) major countries on Friday urged India and Pakistan to engage in direct dialogue as hostilities rise between the nuclear-armed neighbors, while the U.S. government said it has offered assistance in starting "constructive talks."



World powers have raised the alarm over the latest escalation in the decades-old India-Pakistan rivalry. India hit Pakistan with air strikes and missiles on Wednesday and since then both countries have been clashing daily. Dozens have been killed.



Among the G7 powers, the U.S. has held regular talks with both India and Pakistan in recent days and urged them to de-escalate.



After a call on Friday between Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir, the U.S. State Department said Rubio offered U.S. assistance "in starting constructive talks in order to avoid future conflicts."



Rubio has also held regular calls with Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar since the end of April.

President Donald Trump said earlier this week the rising tensions were a shame. U.S. Vice President JD Vance said a war between the two countries would be "none of our business."