WASHINGTON: Cautioning that further military activity will exacerbate the situation between Pakistan and India, the US State Department urged both the sides to continue taking steps to defuse tensions.

“The position of the United States is we continue to urge both sides to continue to take steps to de-escalate the situation, and that includes through direct communication,” State Department Deputy Spokesperson Robert Palladino told a briefing.

He was responding to a question about the US assessment of the situation between the two countries and efforts made by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in calming the situation.

The spokesman said: “We believe strongly that further military activity will exacerbate the situation.”