US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has urged India and Pakistan to work together to de-escalate tensions following last week's terrorist attack in the Indian-controlled part of Kashmir that killed 26 people.



The State Department said Rubio spoke separately with Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif over the phone on Wednesday.



The department said Rubio encouraged the two countries to work together to maintain peace and security in South Asia.



The Kashmir region is claimed by both India and Pakistan.



On April 22, gunmen opened fire on a group of tourists in the Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir, killing 26 people.



India accuses Pakistan of involvement in the attack and has taken countermeasures. India has also indicated it may conduct a retaliatory attack.



Pakistan has denied involvement. It is calling for a neutral investigation while also taking retaliatory measures against India's response.



The Pakistani government also released a statement on the call from Rubio. It said Sharif called for a transparent, credible and neutral investigation and "urged the US to impress upon India to dial down the rhetoric and act responsibly."



Amid escalating tensions between the two nuclear states, concern is growing that India may carry out a military strike against Pakistan in the near future.