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www.newsindiatimes.com – that’s all you need to know India Wants Kashmir Attackers Brought To Justice, Foreign Minister Tells Rubio -NEW DELHI/MUZAFFARABAD I ndia’s foreign minister said he has told Secretary of State Marco Rubio that perpetrators of the deadly at- tack in Kashmir last week should be brought to justice, as the U.S. sought to calm tensions between nuclear- armed India and Pakistan. The U.S. said Rubio discussed the strained ties between the two neighbors in separate telephone calls onWednes- day, April 30, urging them to work with each other to “de-escalate tensions.” He expressed support to India in combating extremism and urged Paki- stan to cooperate in probing the attack that killed 26 people, the State Depart- ment said. Indian Foreign Minister Subrahman- yam Jaishankar said in a post on X that he told Rubio “perpetrators, backers and planners” of the April 22 attack “must be brought to justice”. Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif urged the U.S. to press India to “dial down the rhetoric and act respon- sibly,” according to a statement from his office. On Thursday, Indian Defense Minis- ter Rajnath Singh spoke to U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth by phone, and told him that “Pakistan has a history of supporting, training and funding terrorist organisations,” Singh’s office posted on X. “Secretary Hegseth said that the U.S. stands in solidarity with India and sup- ports India’s right to defend itself,” it said. Islamist assailants attacked a meadow teeming with tourists in Kashmir’s Pa- halgam area last week, segregated men, asked their names and shot Hindus at close range, officials and survivors said. At least 26 people, mostly tourists, were killed. India has identified the three attack- ers, including two Pakistani nationals, as “terrorists” waging a violent revolt in Muslim-majority Kashmir. Islamabad has denied any role and called for a neutral investigation. SEMINARIES CLOSED The old rivals have taken measures against each other since the Pahalgam attack, with India putting a critical river water sharing treaty in abeyance. Both have closed their airspace to each other’s airlines. Troops from the two sides have exchanged small arms fire across their frontier for the past seven nights, but no casualties have been reported so far, India has said. Pakistan did not respond to a request for comment. The United Nations has asked both countries to avoid confrontation. China, a key player in the region, had earlier this week urged them to exercise restraint. Earlier this week, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi told his mili- tary chiefs that they have the freedom to decide the country’s response to the Pa- halgam attack, a government source said. Pakistan says military action by India was imminent. -Reuters By Tariq Maqbool, Shivam Patel and Tanvi Mehta UN’s Guterres Urges India, Pakistan To Avoid Escalation In South Asia A s war clouds hover over the subcontinent, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has urged India and Pakistan to avoid escalation of the situation amid reports of troops exchanging fire across the Line of Control in Kashmir. “The Secretary-General remains deeply concerned about the situation between India and Pakistan”, his spokesperson Farhan Haq said in a written response to a reporter’s query. “He strongly urges both Governments to exercise maximum restraint and avoid any escalation”, Haq said on Monday. For the fourth day running on Monday, the Paki- stan Army launched unprovoked firing with small arms across the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir, and “Indian troops responded swiftly and effectively”, the Indian defense ministry spokesperson said. Haq said the UN Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) “has no presence in the area where the attack happened”. Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif told a TV outlet that there was “an immediate threat” of a confrontation. “The Secretary-General reaffirms his firm belief that even the most challenging issues can be resolved peacefully through meaningful and constructive dialogue”, Haq said. “He stands ready to support any initiatives, accept- able to both parties, that promote and the resumption of dialogue”, he added. India is opposed to any third-party involvement in disputes with its neighbor citing the 1972 Simla Agreement between the leaders of the two coun- tries declaring their disputes bilateral. Haq said, “The Secretary-General conveys his solidarity with the families of the victims of the 22 April terrorist attack and underscores the impor- tance of accountability and justice”. (Used under special arrangementwith South Asia Monitor.This article appeared in SAM on April 29, 2025) ADDON FROM UN READOUT A statement put out by the UN on April 29, reads as follows: This morning, the Secretary-General spoke separately by telephone with Muhammad Shebaz Sharif, the Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, and he also spoke earlier in the day with Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, the Min- ister for External Affairs of the Republic of India. In his phone calls, the Secretary-General reiterated his strong condemnation of the 22 April terrorist attack that took place in Jammu and Kashmir. The Secretary-General noted the importance of pursu- ing justice and accountability for these attacks through lawful means. The Secretary-General also expressed his deep concern at the rising tensions between India and Pakistan and he also underscored the need to avoid a confrontation that could result in tragic consequences. The Secretary-General offered his Good Offices to support any de-escalation efforts. PHOTO:UN.ORG PHOTO:REUTERS/ADNAN ABIDI UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres. A demonstrator holds a placard with a message and a candle during a candlelight vigil to condemn the attack on tourists, following a suspected mili- tant attack near south Kashmir’s scenic Pahalgam, in Srinagar April 23, 2025. By South Asia Monitor PHOTO:REUTERS/Stringer/File Photo An Indian security force trooper moves past parked vehicles during a cordon and search operation, following an attack on tourists near Pahalgam, in Gudder village of south Kashmir’s Kulgam district April 26, 2025. US-India News India Times (May 3, 2025 - May 9, 2025) May 9, 2025 13