PM Shehbaz urges Rubio to make India ‘dial down rhetoric’

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday urged United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio to use his influence to persuade India to de-escalate its rhetoric and demonstrate restraint in light of the heightened tensions following the Pahalgam attack.

The United States, for its part, called for restraint and announced its intention to engage both countries in dialogue to help defuse the crisis.

According to a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office, Secretary Rubio spoke with Prime Minister Shehbaz by telephone in the evening. During the conversation, the prime minister “urged the US to impress upon India to dial down the rhetoric and act responsibly.”

The statement further noted that Prime Minister Shehbaz described India’s escalatory and provocative behavior as “deeply disappointing and worrisome,” warning that such actions would only serve to divert Pakistan’s attention from its ongoing counterterrorism efforts against groups such as ISKP (Islamic State Khorasan Province), TTP (Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan), and BLA (Balochistan Liberation Army), many of which operate from Afghan territory.

Prime Minister Shehbaz also “categorically rejected” India’s attempts to implicate Pakistan in the Pahalgam incident, reiterating his call for a transparent, credible, and impartial investigation to establish the facts.

The statement added that the prime minister briefed Secretary Rubio on Pakistan’s position regarding recent regional developments following the Pahalgam attack. He also criticized India’s alleged attempt to “weaponize water”—a move he termed “most regrettable”—noting that water is a vital resource for 240 million Pakistanis. He emphasized that the Indus Waters Treaty contains no provision for unilateral withdrawal from its obligations.

In conclusion, the prime minister asserted that the peaceful resolution of the Kashmir dispute remains the “only path to lasting peace in South Asia.”