Rubio urges de-escalation in calls with Indian foreign minister and Pakistan PM Sharif

May 8 (Reuters) - Secretary of State Marco Rubio urged de-escalation and expressed support for direct dialogue in separate calls with Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday, U.S. State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said in readouts of the calls.

Rubio reaffirmed to Jaishankar his commitment to work with India in the fight against terrorism, and expressed sorrow to Sharif for the reported loss of civilian lives in the current conflict between the two neighbouring countries, while also urging Pakistan to take steps to end support for terrorist groups, according to the readouts.