Brussels (TDI): The European Union (EU) urged Pakistan and India to de-escalate rising tensions following the Pahalgam attack in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), which killed 26 people and triggered a wave of diplomatic and military responses between the two neighbors.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas stated she had spoken with Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Indian Minister of External Affairs Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and urged both sides to pursue diplomacy and show restraint.
She said that growing tensions between the two nuclear-armed countries are alarming.
“I urge both parties to show restraint and pursue diplomacy to ease the situation,” Kallas said.
The Pahalgam attack, one of the deadliest in the occupied valley in decades, occurred at a popular tourist site in IIOJK.
India falsely accused Pakistan of backing the assailants, an allegation Pakistan strongly denies.
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In response, New Delhi expelled Pakistani diplomats, suspended the Indus Waters Treaty, revoked visas for Pakistani citizens, and imposed further travel and media restrictions.
Islamabad strongly retaliated with diplomatic expulsions and airspace closures.
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Minor skirmishes have since erupted along the Line of Control (LoC), and Pakistani officials have warned of possible Indian military attack.
The US has also urged both countries to avoid escalation and find a “responsible solution” to prevent broader conflict.
