US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in a telephonic conversation with National Security Advisor Ajit Doval late Wednesday night, said the US supports India’s decision to take action against JeM terror camp on Pakistani soil.

Last week, US National Security Adviser John Bolton had told his Indian counterpart that America supports India’s right to self-defence as both sides vowed to work together to ensure that Pakistan ceases to be a safe haven for JeM and other terror groups.

Deeply concerned over the growing confrontation between India and Pakistan, the US Wednesday urged the nuclear-armed neighbours to take immediate steps to de-escalate tensions, warning that the potential risks associated with further military action by either side are unacceptably high for both the countries.

The US further reiterated its call for Pakistan to abide by the United Nations Security Council commitments to deny terrorists safe haven and block their access to funds.

India on Wednesday lodged a strong protest with Pakistan over the “unprovoked act of aggression” against the country, including by violation of the Indian airspace by Pakistan Air Force and targeting of Indian military posts and ” vulgar display ” of an injured Indian pilot.

Read | India protests ‘vulgar display’ of injured IAF pilot by Pakistan, demands his safe return

Tensions between India and Pakistan escalated following the February 14 terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pulwama district in which over 44 CRPF personnel were killed and many injured on February 14 in one of the deadliest terror strikes when a Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) suicide bomber blew up an explosive-laden vehicle near their bus.

“The United States is deeply concerned about rising tensions between India and Pakistan and calls on both sides to take immediate steps to de-escalate the situation,” said an official of the National Security Council (NSC) of the White House.

“The potential risks associated with further military action by either side are unacceptably high for both countries, their neighbours, and the international community,” the NSC official told PTI on the condition of anonymity.

The official was responding to a question on Pakistan’s claim that it shot down two Indian fighter jets over Pakistani air space and arrested a pilot.

Following the Pulwama terror attack, India carried out “non-military pre-emptive” airstrikes targeting the JeM training camp in Balakot in Pakistan’s restive Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, about 80-km from the Line of Control (LoC) early on February 26, killing a “very large number” of terrorists, trainers and senior commanders.

In a 21-minute offensive, 12 Mirage 2000 jets carried out the strike at around 3.30 am and dropped 1000 Kg bombs on terror camps across LoC, completely destroying it and killing over 300 terrorists.

On Wednesday, Pakistan claimed it shot down two Indian fighter jets over Pakistani air space and arrested a pilot.

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan tried to defuse the tension by saying war is futile and can lead to unknown consequences while making an oblique reference to the nuclear weapons that both countries possess.

Earlier, Mike Pompeo spoke over the phone with External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi seeking a de-escalation of tensions.

“Following Indian counter-terrorism actions on February 26, I spoke with Indian Minister of External Affairs Swaraj to emphasise our close security partnership and shared goal of maintaining peace and security in the region,” Pompeo said in a statement.

The US, the UK and France earlier on Wednesday moved a fresh proposal in the UN Security Council to designate Pakistan-based terror group JeM’s chief Masood Azhar as a global terrorist, a listing that will subject him to global travel ban, asset freeze and arms embargo.