Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday called on the United States to urge India to reduce tensions and moderate its rhetoric amid escalating conflict in the disputed region of Kashmir. The request came during a phone conversation with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, as confirmed in a statement from Sharif’s press office.

Sharif emphasized Pakistan’s desire for a peaceful resolution to the Kashmir issue, which has seen a surge in hostilities following the deadly Pahalgam attack last week. Cross-border skirmishes have intensified in the wake of the attack, prompting concern over further escalation between the two nuclear-armed neighbors.

During the call, Sharif again rejected India’s accusations that Pakistan was involved in the Pahalgam incident. He also condemned New Delhi's decision to suspend a key water-sharing treaty between the two nations, describing the move as an attempt to “weaponize” access to water—a resource both countries heavily depend on.

The Pakistani leader warned that such actions could aggravate an already volatile situation and undermine any chance for dialogue. He stressed that India's aggressive posture and policy shifts threaten to destabilize regional peace and urged Washington to play a mediating role in promoting de-escalation and diplomacy.

The conversation underscores Pakistan’s growing reliance on international support to counter India’s narrative and to avoid isolation in the international arena. It also highlights the broader geopolitical stakes in South Asia, where tensions between India and Pakistan continue to pose a challenge to regional security.