New Delhi, May 8 -- US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Thursday said Trump government is closely following the situation in South Asia and urged Pakistan and India to de-escalate as tension mounted between the two neighbours.

Rubio on Thursday spoke with India's External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, emphasizing on need for de-escalation of tensions.

He also expressed the US support for direct dialogue between the two Asian nations.

Earlier on Thursday, Rubio called Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and discussed the evolving situation in the region, according to news agency PTI citing Radio Pakistan.

The United States is closely following the situation in South Asia as it is committed to promoting peace and stability in the ...