Amid increasingly strained relations between India and Pakistan, the United States has called for "calm and restraint" from duos and urged both militaries to keep their lines of communication open to help diffuse tensions in the region.

The State Department spokesperson Elizabeth Trudeau said that, "We urge calm and restraint on both sides. We understand, as we said last week, that the militaries are in touch. We believe that continued communication is vital to reduce these tensions."

Trudeau, however, refused to respond to questions on India's surgical strike across the Line of Control in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. "I'm not going to speak to any reports of these incidents."

"I think what you would take a look at being discussed is regional stability and regional security. One of the things I think we all need to focus on is conflicts or issues or rising tension are not contained to any specific region," Trudeau said.

"We are in favor of any reduction of tensions that both sides agree to in this particular instance. We have strong ties with both Pakistan and India, and we'll engage on that basis," she added.

The US position on Kashmir has not changed, she said. "I would say that our position on Kashmir has not changed, and I would remind you that we are having conversations with both countries on the importance of reducing the tensions in the region," she added.

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Nandini