NEW DELHI (Bernama): The United States has asked India and Pakistan to "find ways" and "identify methods" to reduce their military tensions.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio conveyed this message in his phone conversations with Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar.
"Secretary Rubio emphasised that both sides need to identify methods to de-escalate and re-establish direct communication to avoid miscalculation," State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said on Saturday of his conversations with the Indian foreign minister.
When he spoke to Dar, Rubio reiterated that the South Asian neighbours "must find ways to de-escalate the current situation."
Rubio proposed US support in facilitating "productive discussions to avert future disputes."
The US secretary of state also discussed the regional situation with Pakistan Army chief General Syed Asim Munir.
The India-Pakistan standoff on Saturday took a dangerous turn as Pakistan launched "Operation Bunyan-un-Marsoos" to hit Indian targets following India's aerial attacks on Pakistan's major airbases.
The statements were made available on https://www.state.gov/press-releases/ -- Bernama
