US Urges De-escalation as Pakistan Launches ‘Operation Bunyan al-Marsus’ Against India Amid Rising Tensions

Key Highlights:

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio calls Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir amid military escalation.

Rubio also spoke to Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar a day earlier, offering US support for dialogue.

The US stresses need for peace following Pakistan’s airstrikes and India’s counterattacks.

President Trump calls for swift de-escalation of India-Pakistan conflict.


Full Story:
In the midst of escalating hostilities between India and Pakistan, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio held a crucial phone call with Pakistan’s Army Chief General Asim Munir on May 9. The conversation came shortly after Pakistan initiated a series of airstrikes on Indian territory, an operation referred to by Pakistani media as ‘Operation Bunyan al-Marsus’.

According to an official statement from the US Department of State, Rubio urged both sides to step back from further confrontation and offered Washington’s assistance in initiating constructive peace talks. His outreach to General Munir followed a similar call made to Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar the previous day, during which he expressed condolences for the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir, and reaffirmed US support in combating terrorism.

The situation has rapidly intensified after Pakistan launched drone and missile strikes targeting 26 locations in India late Friday. In a swift retaliation, India carried out precision strikes early Saturday on three Pakistani airbases—Nur Khan (Rawalpindi), Murid (Chakwal), and Rafiqui (Jhang). These exchanges triggered explosions across several cities in Jammu & Kashmir and Punjab, including Srinagar, Jammu, and Rajouri.

The White House also weighed in on the escalating crisis. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt conveyed President Donald Trump’s deep concern over the situation, stating that he wants to see a resolution “as quickly as possible.” She emphasized that the administration, including Secretary Rubio and the national security team, is actively engaged in efforts to defuse tensions.

As the region teeters on the edge of wider conflict, international attention remains fixed on South Asia, with diplomatic pressure mounting for both nuclear-armed neighbors to return to the negotiating table.