Donald Trump urges ‘quick’ de-escalation of India-Pakistan conflict, Rubio in touch with both countries: White House

US President Donald Trump has urged both India and Pakistan to de-escalate tensions "as quickly as possible," the White House said on Friday, following a sharp spike in hostilities between the two neighbouring countries.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt made the remarks after India launched a strike on nine terror infrastructure sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) under ‘Operation Sindoor’ early Wednesday (May 7). The strikes came in response to the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, which killed 26 people, mostly tourists.

“Long history of tensions”

“The President has expressed he wants to see this de-escalate as quickly as possible,” Leavitt told reporters. “He understands these are two countries that have been at odds with one another for decades, long before President Trump was here in the Oval Office.”

She added, “This is something that the Secretary of State and, of course, now our national security advisor as well, Marco Rubio, has been very much involved in.”

US in close contact with both sides

Leavitt highlighted that Trump “has good relationships” with the leaders of both India and Pakistan, and said National Security Advisor Marco Rubio has been in “constant communication with the leaders of both countries, trying to bring this conflict to an end.”

Calls with Jaishankar and Sharif

On Thursday, Secretary of State Rubio spoke separately with India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, pressing for de-escalation while also stressing the need for Pakistan to act against terror groups.

Rubio, according to Leavitt, “emphasised the need for de-escalation and reiterated his calls for Pakistan to take concrete steps to end any support for terrorist groups.”

India’s firm stance

During his conversation with Rubio, Jaishankar made India’s position clear, stating that India will “firmly counter any attempts by Pakistan to escalate the situation.”

Trump offers to mediate

US President Donald Trump on the day of Operation Sindoor revealed that Washington had indications of India’s strikes on terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), expressing hope that tensions between the two countries would not spiral further.

Speaking to reporters after India’s Operation Sindoor, Trump said, “We knew something was going to happen.” He acknowledged the long-standing hostility between the two neighbours, adding, “They have been fighting for many many decades, and centuries when you think about it. I just hope it ends very quickly.”

Amid growing concerns over the conflict, Trump on May 8 offered to mediate between India and Pakistan. “Oh it's so terrible! My position is I get along with both. I know both very well and I want to see them work it out,” he said, according to ANI. Highlighting the tit-for-tat escalation, Trump remarked, “They've gotten tit for tat, so hopefully they can stop now.” He added, “And if I can do anything to help, I will be there.”