Following a wave of Israeli-made drone strikes by India across multiple Pakistani cities on Thursday, diplomatic efforts by key international and regional players have intensified to prevent further escalation between the two nuclear-armed neighbors.
Unlike previous military standoffs, this latest episode has taken the region into uncharted territory, where any miscalculation could trigger a catastrophic conflict, according to sources familiar with backchannel diplomacy.
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The United States and Saudi Arabia have emerged as the primary mediators in this crisis. Their involvement became more apparent on Thursday when Saudi Arabia’s Deputy Foreign Minister, Adel Al-Jubeir, paid an unannounced visit to New Delhi. Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio held separate calls with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
A U.S. State Department readout noted that Rubio and Prince Faisal discussed regional security, economic ties, and efforts to de-escalate the situation between India and Pakistan, without providing additional details.
Washington and Riyadh are working closely to defuse the situation. While Saudi Arabia maintains longstanding ties with Pakistan, its relations with India have also strengthened in recent years. A wider conflict between the two South Asian rivals would jeopardize Riyadh’s geostrategic and economic interests.
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Sources revealed that Pakistan conveyed to U.S. and Saudi interlocutors that it does not seek escalation, holding India responsible for initiating the current crisis. Islamabad urged the international community to denounce India’s missile strikes, which targeted civilians, and warned that New Delhi appeared to be using the Pahalgam attack as a pretext to withdraw from the Indus Waters Treaty — a water-sharing agreement that has endured even during wartime.
Pakistan reportedly insisted that India reverse its decision to suspend the treaty and abandon aggressive posturing.
Diplomatic efforts have resulted in some progress: direct communication lines between Pakistan and India have been reactivated at the level of National Security Advisers (NSAs). Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar confirmed that Pakistan’s NSA, Lt. General Asim Malik — who also heads the ISI — has been in contact with his Indian counterpart, Ajit Doval. Additionally, the Director Generals of Military Operations from both sides are in touch via hotline.
The U.S. and Saudi Arabia played a pivotal role in facilitating these exchanges, encouraging dialogue even amid rising tensions.
In a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office, PM Shehbaz Sharif condemned India’s missile and drone strikes, which he said resulted in the deaths of 31 civilians and injuries to 57 others, alongside damage to civilian infrastructure. He asserted that the attacks violated Pakistan’s sovereignty and posed a grave threat to regional peace and stability.
Sharif reaffirmed Pakistan’s resolve to safeguard its sovereignty and territorial integrity at all costs, emphasizing the public’s outrage over India’s “unprovoked acts of war.” He underscored Pakistan’s right to self-defense under Article 51 of the UN Charter and expressed appreciation for President Trump’s concern over the volatile situation.
Secretary Rubio, in separate phone calls to Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and PM Sharif, emphasized the urgent need for de-escalation and encouraged direct communication between the two nations, according to U.S. State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce.
Reflecting a careful diplomatic balancing act, the readouts from Rubio’s calls carried tailored messages for both sides. To Jaishankar, Rubio reaffirmed U.S. cooperation with India in counterterrorism efforts. To Sharif, he expressed sorrow for the civilian casualties and also urged Pakistan to curb support for terrorist groups.
Meanwhile, Deputy PM and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar also held a phone conversation with the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas. The call, initiated by Kallas, followed an earlier discussion on the regional situation held on May 2.
Dar thanked the EU for its solidarity during the ongoing crisis and denounced India’s actions as a flagrant act of war that violated Pakistan’s sovereignty and threatened regional peace. He rejected India’s justification of targeting “terrorist infrastructure,” reiterating that no credible evidence links Pakistan to the Pahalgam attack.
He stressed Pakistan’s right to respond appropriately, in accordance with the UN Charter and international law.
HR/VP Kallas extended condolences for the civilian casualties and expressed sympathy to the victims’ families. She urged both nations to exercise maximum restraint and commit to dialogue and diplomacy.