US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson pauses during a briefing at the Department of State in Washington. Pic/AFP

The US has asked India and Pakistan to continue to engage in direct talks aimed at reducing tensions between the two countries. "I think one of the things that we would do is ask or encourage India and Pakistan to sit down together and engage in direct dialogue that is aimed at reducing tensions between both of those countries," State Department Spokesperson Heather Nauert told reporters yesterday.