U.S.'s Pompeo urges India, Pakistan to avoid military action

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo speaks at a news conference at Lazienki Palace in Warsaw, Poland February 12, 2019. REUTERS/Kacper Pempel

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo spoke separately with the foreign ministers of India and Pakistan and urged them to avoid "further military activity" following an air strike by India inside Pakistan.

"I expressed to both Ministers that we encourage India and Pakistan to exercise restraint, and avoid escalation at any cost," Pompeo said in a statement issued in Washington on Tuesday.

"I also encouraged both Ministers to prioritize direct communication and avoid further military activity," he said.

(Reporting by Eric Beech; Editing by Mohammad Zargham)