US President Donald Trump wants the escalating conflict between India and Pakistan to de-escalate “as quickly as possible,” the White House said on Friday. The statement comes in the wake of India’s powerful military retaliation—Operation Sindoor—that targeted nine terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) following the Pahalgam massacre on April 22, which claimed 26 lives, mostly tourists.
White House says Trump closely watching the situation
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, addressing reporters, emphasised the President’s concern. “The President has expressed he wants to see this de-escalate as quickly as possible. 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 said.
#WATCH | Washington, DC | On US efforts to mediate in the India-Pakistan conflict, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt says, "This is something that the Secretary of State and now our NSA as well, Marco Rubio, has been involved in. The President has expressed that he… pic.twitter.com/NL55jSFyIM
— ANI (@ANI) May 9, 2025
Leavitt also pointed out the ongoing diplomatic efforts led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and the newly appointed National Security Advisor, noting that both have been “very much involved” in trying to manage the growing tensions between the nuclear-armed neighbours.
US engaging both sides through diplomacy
In a bid to ease the crisis, Secretary of State Rubio held separate phone conversations on Thursday with Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. During these discussions, Rubio stressed the importance of restraint and called on Pakistan to take concrete steps to curb support for terrorist organisations.
Rubio’s outreach marks a continued US effort to mediate, leveraging Trump’s reportedly “good relationships” with both Indian and Pakistani leaderships. According to the White House, these lines of communication are being used to advocate for peace and avoid further escalation.
India asserts Right to Respond
Meanwhile, Jaishankar conveyed to Rubio that India will “firmly counter any attempts” by Pakistan to heighten hostilities, reaffirming New Delhi’s position on national security and cross-border terrorism.