U.S. welcomes India-Pakistan ceasefire, urges direct communication; will not mediate publicly

The U.S. Department of State welcomed reports of a ceasefire between India and Pakistan and commended both prime ministers for choosing “the path of peace,” the principal deputy spokesperson said.

Tommy Pigott said the administration encourages direct communication between the parties and reiterated the president’s praise for both leaders’ choice of peace. “We also want to encourage direct communication between the parties,” he said.

Reporters asked whether the U.S. had received commitments from Pakistani leadership to dismantle terrorist infrastructure; Pigott declined to discuss private diplomatic conversations or to preview any specifics of bilateral talks. He reiterated that the U.S. welcomed the ceasefire and would continue to urge direct talks.

Questions about whether Israeli-made drones used in cross-border actions could complicate broader regional initiatives such as the Abraham Accords were answered with a return to the main point: the U.S. focus remains on maintaining the ceasefire and encouraging direct dialogue, Pigott said.

The State Department did not provide operational details on mediation efforts, nor did it confirm whether the U.S. had sent teams to Islamabad in response to reports of radiation leaks at Pakistani secure sites; Pigott said he had “nothing to preview on that at this time.”