Washington/London/New Delhi: The US has said it is in touch with both India and Pakistan so as not to escalate the situation, following the Pahalgam terror attack, while in the UK Parliament Conservative MP Bob Blackman strongly condemned the “systematic killing of Hindus and Christians” in the attack.
During a US State Department briefing, spokesperson Tammy Bruce confirmed that the United States is in touch with the leadership of both Pakistan and India.
She said that Secretary of State Marco Rubio is “reaching out – regarding the Kashmir situation to India and Pakistan”.
“We are reaching out to both parties and telling, of course, them to not escalate the situation. The Secretary expects to speak with the foreign ministers of Pakistan and India as early as today or tomorrow. He is encouraging other national leaders, other foreign ministers, to also reach out to the countries on this issue.
She said the US is “obviously also monitoring the developments across the board in that region”, and at multiple levels is in touch with the governments of India and Pakistan, not just at the foreign minister level.
“We, of course, are encouraging all parties to work together for a responsible solution. The world is watching this,” she added.
In the UK Parliament, Conservative MP Bob Blackman raised the Pahalgam terror attack, terming it an “Islamist” attack and called on the UK government to provide full support to India in its fight against cross-border terrorism.
Speaking in the UK Parliament, and later also at a memorial at India House, in London, Bob Blackman described the April 22 attack as a well organised and coordinated one.
“The terrorists were well-equipped, and they were well-coordinated. The sad reality is this, whilst the government may give expressions of condolences and support to the people of India, the fact remains that the terrorist bases that exist along the Line of Control in the part of Kashmir, illegally occupied by
Pakistan, still continue to operate across that Line of Control,” he said, in a statement strongly backing India’s stand against Pakistan and its cross-border terrorism.
“These 26 men who were murdered systematically by being shot in the head, were either Hindu or Christian, and there was a deliberate Islamist attack on those tourists who were just going about their business in a peaceful manner,” he added.
UK Foreign Office Minister Hamish Falconer pledged his support to India in the UK parliament. Condemning the attack, the minister emphasised India’s right to pursue justice against terrorism.
“These issues have long been discussed with passion on British streets and we call on sides, all community leaders, all involved to call for calm at a time of tension in the region,” Falconer told parliament.
UNI
