The US wants “direct talks” on Kashmir between India and Pakistan.

The recent truce between India and Pakistan has been hailed by the US as a move in the right direction toward reducing regional tensions.

US State Department Deputy Spokesperson Tommy Pigott stressed during a news briefing that the US is in favor of direct negotiations between the two nations to address long-standing problems, such as the Kashmir dispute.

“President Donald Trump is dedicated to advancing peace and stability in South Asia,” Pigott said. He told reporters, “The president is a peacemaker, and we celebrate the advancement of peace.” “We want to see and encourage direct communication between the parties.”

Pigott reiterated the United States’ preference for bilateral talks between India and Pakistan in response to a query regarding possible US mediation of the Kashmir dispute. We have made that plain. We are pleased to see a ceasefire. We’re still focused on it,” he stated.

In order to reduce regional tensions, he continued, both countries must “take a step back.” He stated that the US government is dedicated to promoting communication and is still focused on assisting initiatives that lower the likelihood of violence.

Pigott added that President Trump commended the prime ministers of India and Pakistan for exercising moderation and choosing the path of peace. “We applaud both nations’ leadership for deciding to pursue diplomacy instead of aggression,” he stated.

The US State Department reaffirmed that Washington’s top priorities continue to be upholding the ceasefire and encouraging direct communication. “We’ll keep working with both sides to promote peace, and we hope to see this ceasefire maintained,” Pigott said in closing.

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Following a period of increased military tension along the Line of Control (LoC), the ceasefire was mediated behind the scenes by Washington and other international partners. The two nuclear-armed neighbors, whose ties have remained tense because to the Kashmir dispute and cross-border clashes, have expressed optimism that they will resume their interaction.

India has maintained that all unresolved issues, including Kashmir, should be settled bilaterally, a stance that the US seems to still back, despite Pakistan’s long-standing desire for third-party mediation.