India-Pakistan conflict: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio tells Pak Army Chief Asim Munir to de-escalate 

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke with Pakistani Army Chief Asim Munir earlier today. He continued to urge both India and Pakistan to find ways to de-escalate and offered U.S. assistance in starting constructive talks in order to avoid future conflicts, said US State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce.

In a flurry of high-level diplomatic outreach on May 8, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio had spoken with Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Pakistani Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, urging both sides to avoid further escalation amid rising tensions following the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam.

"The United States remains committed to supporting India in its fight against terrorism," Rubio said, extending his condolences for the deadly Pahalgam attack, which has reignited long-standing concerns about cross-border militancy.

Following his conversation with the US official, Jaishankar said New Delhi deeply appreciated Washington's support. “[We] underlined India’s targeted and measured response to cross-border terrorism. Will firmly counter any attempts at escalation,” he stated.

Jaishankar also held a separate conversation with the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Kaja Kallas. He reiterated India's stance, saying: “India has been measured in its actions. However, any escalation will get a firm response.”

The US talking directly to Pakistan’s army chief shows how seriously it views the rising tensions between India and Pakistan. With rising tensions, the world is watching closely, hoping that talks and diplomacy can stop things from getting worse.

Meanwhile, India has chosen not to vote on the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) bailout package for Pakistan. It raised concerns about the recent review of the $1 billion loan under the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) and the proposal for a new $1.3 billion loan, saying its decision was limited by certain procedural and technical rules.

India has strongly warned that supporting countries involved in cross-border terrorism sends a dangerous signal to the world. Calling it a serious issue, India urged institutions like the IMF to give proper importance to moral values before approving such financial support.