Washington/New Delhi, May 1 -- The US has reached out to both India and Pakistan calling for the de-escalation of tensions and to maintain peace and security in South Asia, even as New Delhi has conveyed firmly that the perpetrators, backers and planners of the Pahalgam terror attack "must be brought to justice".

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, and "expressed his sorrow for the lives lost in the horrific terrorist attack in Pahalgam, and reaffirmed the United States' commitment to cooperation with India against terrorism".

"He also encouraged India to work with Pakistan to de-escalate tensions and maintain peace and security in South Asia", the State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruc...