ISLAMABAD: United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio, in a telephone conversation with Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday, said that the US is closely following the situation in South Asia and reaffirmed Washington’s commitment to peace and stability in the region amid the escalating tensions between nuclear-armed Pakistan and India.
According to a press release from the Prime Minister’s Office, PM Shehbaz received a call from Secretary Rubio on Thursday evening. During the conversation, Secretary Rubio noted that the United States was closely monitoring the situation in South Asia and reiterated Washington’s commitment to promoting peace and stability in the region.Rubio urged both Pakistan and India to work together to de-escalate the situation, the statement said. “Both sides agreed to remain in contact,” the statement added. The Prime Minister conveyed Pakistan’s strong condemnation of India’s missile and drone strikes that had led to the death of 31 civilians, injured 57 others and damaged civilian infrastructures.
“India’s attacks had violated Pakistan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, while gravely jeopardising peace and stability in the South Asia region,” PM Shehbaz added. The Prime Minister reaffirmed Pakistan’s firm resolve to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity at all costs.He noted that the people of Pakistan were outraged by India’s unprovoked acts of war, and stressed that Pakistan reserved the right to act in self-defence, in accordance with Article-51 of the UN Charter. The Prime Minister appreciated President Trump’s concern over the current security situation in South Asia.
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