US President Donald Trump has expressed his hope that India and Pakistan will cease their escalating conflict and work toward peace after a series of missile strikes and artillery exchanges between the two nations. Trump, speaking to reporters at the White House, offered his assistance to both sides, emphasizing his willingness to help mediate the situation.
“It’s so terrible,” Trump said, acknowledging the tense standoff between the two countries. “I get along with both, I know both very well, and I want to see them work it out. I want to see them stop. They’ve gone tit-for-tat, so hopefully they can stop now.”
Trump’s comments came amidst heavy fighting between India and Pakistan, particularly along their contested frontier. India had launched missile strikes that led to at least 43 deaths, exacerbating already high tensions between the two nuclear-armed nations. The strikes were reportedly in retaliation for an attack on Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir, which New Delhi blames on Pakistan — a claim Islamabad denies.
The US president reiterated his strong relationships with both nations, pointing out that he has good connections with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, whom he hosted at the White House earlier this year. Trump’s administration had previously been more focused on building ties with India, but the recent escalation has prompted immediate diplomatic action.
“We get along with both countries very well, good relationships with both, and I want to see it stop,” Trump said. “And if I can do anything to help, I will be there.”
Trump initially downplayed the crisis as part of the long-standing tensions between India and Pakistan, remarking that the two countries had been at odds for “1,500 years,” despite their modern separation only being in 1947 following British colonial rule. However, the Trump administration has recently taken a more active role in attempting to de-escalate the situation.
In the 24 hours following the Indian airstrikes, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio reached out to both India and Pakistan’s foreign ministers, encouraging them to reopen dialogue and seek a peaceful resolution. The White House confirmed that these discussions are part of efforts to defuse the ongoing crisis and prevent further escalation.
As tensions continue to rise in South Asia, the international community, including the United States, remains concerned about the potential for the situation to spiral into a wider conflict.
