An Indian Border Security Force (BSF) soldier stands guard near the India-Pakistan Wagah border post, about 35kms from Amritsar. AFP
"We strongly call on both India and Pakistan to give priority to peace and stability, remain calm and restrained, return to the track of political settlement through peaceful means and avoid taking actions that further escalate tensions," a statement by a foreign ministry spokesperson said.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio also placed telephone calls to the rivals' top diplomats and, for the first known time since the conflict erupted, spoke with Pakistan's army chief, considered the country's key powerbroker.
In separate calls with the foreign ministers, Rubio "emphasized that both sides need to identify methods to de-escalate and re-establish direct communication to avoid miscalculation," State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce said, adding that he offered US assistance in starting "constructive talks" to avoid future conflicts.
Middle Eastern powers Iran and Saudi Arabia have also offered to mediate, while Egypt has urged India and Pakistan to exercise "utmost restraint" and prioritise diplomacy.
The stepped-up diplomacy came as the conflict intensified between the nuclear-armed neighbors, with Pakistan launching counterattacks after India struck three of its air bases, according to officials.
Gunmen sparked the conflict after killing 26 tourists, mostly Hindu men, last month on the Indian-run side of divided Kashmir.
New Delhi blamed Islamabad for the attack with little evidence and framed its strikes against Pakistan as a response -- a claim Islamabad has denied.
Armed groups have stepped up operations in Kashmir since 2019, when Modi's Hindu nationalist government revoked its limited autonomy and took the state under direct rule by New Delhi.
The conflict has caused major disruptions to international aviation, with airlines cancelling flights or using longer routes that do not overfly the India-Pakistan frontier.
India has closed 24 airports, while schools near the border on both sides remain shut -- disrupting the lives of millions of children as the standoff drags on.
*This story was edited by Ahram Online.
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