US Secretary of State Rubio speaks with EAM Jaishankar, Pak PM Sharif; urges de-escalation of tensio
New York/Washington (PTI): The US has encouraged India and Pakistan to "de-escalate tensions", reaffirming its commitment to cooperate with Delhi against terrorism and urging Islamabad’s cooperation in investigating the “unconscionable" Pahalgam terror attack.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke separately with External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday.
In his call with Jaishankar, Rubio expressed his sorrow for the lives lost in the “horrific” terrorist attack in Pahalgam that had killed 26 civilians, mostly tourists.
Rubio “reaffirmed the United States' commitment to cooperation with India against terrorism. He also encouraged India to work with Pakistan to de-escalate tensions and maintain peace and security in South Asia,” a statement issued by State Department Spokesperson Tammy Bruce said.
In his conversation with Sharif, Rubio spoke of the need to condemn the terror attack on April 22 in Pahalgam and urged Pakistani officials’ cooperation in investigating "this unconscionable attack."
He also encouraged Pakistan to work with India to de-escalate tensions, re-establish direct communications, and maintain peace and security in South Asia.
Rubio and Sharif “reaffirmed their continued commitment to holding terrorists accountable for their heinous acts of violence."
A press release by the Pakistan Prime Minister’s Office said that Sharif briefed the US Secretary of State on Pakistan’s perspective regarding recent developments in South Asia following the Pahalgam terror attack.
Sharif highlighted Pakistan’s “significant contributions” in the global fight against terrorism and claimed that the country has “sacrificed over 90,000 lives and suffered economic losses exceeding USD 152 billion”, the release said.
The prime minister claimed that “Indian provocations” serve to distract from Pakistan’s ongoing efforts to combat terrorism, particularly groups operating from Afghan soil.
Sharif also rejected India’s attempt to link Pakistan to the Pahalgam attack and reiterated Pakistan’s call for an impartial investigation. He also urged the US to press India to refrain from making “inflammatory statements”.
Sharif also brought up the Indus Waters Treaty, which he said is the lifeline for 240 million people, and claimed that it contains no provisions for unilateral withdrawal by any party.
Following the Pahalgam attack, the deadliest in the Valley since the Pulwama strike in 2019, India downgraded diplomatic ties with Pakistan and announced a raft of measures, including suspension of the Indus Water Treaty of 1960 and immediate shutting down of the Attari land-transit post.
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Belthangady MLA Harish Poonja's hate speech video goes viral
Belthangady: A video of Belthangady MLA Harish Poonja delivering a hate speech against Muslims during a religious event has gone viral on social media, sparking widespread outrage. The speech was made from the stage of the Brahmakalashotsava ceremony at the Thekkaru Sri Gopalakrishna Temple on Saturday night.
In the video, the MLA can be heard accusing the local Muslim community of vandalism and theft. He alleged that "country Bearys of Thekkaru" broke tube lights installed for the temple event and stole diesel. His remarks have been widely condemned as inflammatory and communal in nature.
"You (Hindus) are only 150 families in Thekkaru. The Muslim community has 1,200 families. In another ten years, their numbers won’t drop to 600. Instead, the number of Bearys will grow from 5,000 to 10,000. Regardless of their numbers, we must unite, rise above caste differences, and work towards the development of the temple," he said.
MLA Poonja also made unsubstantiated claims that the Muslim community is divided into 70 to 74 castes and questioned why invitations for the Brahmakalashotsava were extended to local mosques.
"Why did Thekkaru villagers send temple invitations to mosques? There is no connection between them and us. It is because of these invitations that they broke the tube lights," he alleged.
Contrary to his remarks, local Muslims had participated in the spirit of harmony by putting up congratulatory banners for the temple celebration after receiving invitations.
The speech has drawn criticism from various quarters, with many accusing the MLA of attempting to incite communal disharmony at a sensitive time.
