Riyadh/New Delhi, May 10: In a bid to ease rising tensions between India and Pakistan, Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister, Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah, held separate telephonic conversations with Indian External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar and Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Ishaq Dar.
According to the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the discussions focused on de-escalating the military confrontation between the two nuclear-armed neighbors. The Saudi Foreign Minister emphasized the Kingdom’s commitment to regional peace and its balanced diplomatic relations with both India and Pakistan.
“His Highness affirmed the Kingdom's commitment to the security and stability of the region and its close and balanced relations with both friendly countries,” the ministry said in a post on X.
Meanwhile, the United States has also intensified its diplomatic outreach to defuse the volatile situation. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Saturday spoke with both Jaishankar and Ishaq Dar, as well as with Pakistan’s Army Chief, General Asim Munir.
According to a statement from the U.S. Department of State, Rubio called for the re-establishment of direct communication between India and Pakistan to prevent miscalculation and further escalation. He also reiterated the U.S.’s willingness to assist in facilitating constructive dialogue between the two sides.
“Secretary Rubio reiterated that both parties must find ways to de-escalate the current situation and re-establish direct communication to avoid miscalculation,” the statement read.
India’s External Affairs Minister Jaishankar, in a post on X, described his conversation with Rubio as productive, stating, “India’s approach has always been measured and responsible, and remains so.”
The diplomatic push comes amid heightened hostilities along the Line of Control (LoC), with India launching retaliatory strikes following Pakistani attacks on 26 locations across Indian territory early Saturday, according to sources cited by ANI. Intermittent firing continues in multiple sectors.
At least four Pakistani airbases were reportedly targeted by Indian precision strikes in the early hours of Saturday.
In a media briefing in New Delhi, Wing Commander Vyomika Singh confirmed Pakistani troop movements towards forward positions, suggesting preparation for further escalation. She emphasized that India has responded proportionately to all hostile actions and remains committed to de-escalation — conditional on reciprocal restraint from Islamabad.
“Indian armed forces remain in a high state of operational readiness... The commitment to non-escalation remains, provided the Pakistan side reciprocates,” Singh stated.
She also dismissed Pakistani claims of having destroyed Indian S-400 systems and airfields as “false and malicious propaganda,” affirming that India's military responses have been precise and restricted to identified military targets.(With Agency Input)
