US Urges India To De-escalate After Pakistan’s Missile Attack, F-16 Shot Down
New Delhi, May 8, 2025:
As India continues to fend off Pakistani military aggression in the aftermath of Operation Sindoor, the United States has called for “immediate de-escalation” of hostilities between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.
Also Read: Pakistan Targets Jammu with Loitering Munitions; India Responds Amid Regional Blackouts
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, in a phone conversation with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Thursday, expressed strong support for India’s right to combat terrorism, offering condolences for the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 civilians. However, he emphasized the need to defuse military tensions with Pakistan and encouraged direct dialogue between the two nations.
Rubio’s call came hours before Pakistan launched a fresh wave of missile and drone attacks, targeting several Indian cities and military bases across Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab, and Rajasthan. Cities like Pathankot, Chandigarh, and Jammu saw sirens wail, skies light up with missile interceptions, and complete blackouts enforced to safeguard both civilian and military infrastructure.
According to defence sources, eight Pakistani missiles were fired at Jammu and Kashmir, all of which were successfully intercepted by India’s S-400 air defence systems. In a significant retaliation, India reportedly shot down a Pakistani F-16 fighter jet near the Sargodha air base.
Earlier this week, India launched Operation Sindoor, a 25-minute synchronized airstrike operation that decimated nine high-value terror targets across Pakistan and PoK. The targets included Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed bases. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh confirmed that over 100 terrorists were eliminated in the strikes, including top operatives like Abdul Rauf Azhar, the mastermind of the IC-814 hijacking.
In retaliation, Pakistan has attempted to target 15 Indian military sites using missiles and drones. India responded using Israeli HARPY drones to neutralize Pakistani air defence systems in Lahore and other key areas.
As tension escalates, the Indian government has reiterated its stance: the country remains committed to non-escalation but will not hesitate to respond decisively to any attack on its soil.
India-Pakistan conflict, Operation Sindoor, Marco Rubio Jaishankar call, missile attack, India air defence, US diplomacy, Pahalgam terror attack, F-16 shot down, India counterstrike, HARPY drones, OperationSindoor,
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