ISLAMABAD: US President Donald Trump said on Sunday he would try to work with both India and Pakistan to see if they can resolve their dispute over the Kashmir territory, vowing to increase trade “substantially” with both nuclear-armed neighbors following their armed conflict this week.
Trump’s message on his social media platform, Truth Social, comes a day after India and Pakistan exchanged missiles and drone attacks, raising widespread fears of a nuclear confrontation between the two. Relations between India and Pakistan deteriorated after Delhi blamed Islamabad for backing an attack on tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir that killed 26.
Islamabad denied involvement, with tensions reaching a boiling point after India fired missiles at what it said were “terrorist infrastructure” in Pakistan on Wednesday, killing several. Pakistan said India had killed only civilians, vowing retribution.
India and Pakistan both claim the Himalayan region of Kashmir in full but govern only parts of it. They have fought two out of three wars since 1947 over Kashmir. India accuses Pakistan of arming separatist militants in the part of Kashmir it administers. Pakistan rejects the allegations and says it extends only moral and diplomatic support to the people of Kashmir.
“While not even discussed, I am going to increase trade, substantially, with both of these great Nations,” Trump wrote, referring to India and Pakistan.
“Additionally, I will work with you both to see if, after a ‘thousand years,’ a solution can be arrived at concerning Kashmir,” he added.
The US president said he was proud of the “strong and unwaveringly powerful leadership” of India and Pakistan for having the strength, wisdom, and fortitude to understand that it was time to stop the military aggression.
He said the armed conflict between the two states could have led “to the death and destruction of so many, and so much.”
’LONGSTANDING ISSUE’
Pakistan’s foreign office welcomed Trump’s statement, appreciating the American president’s “constructive role” in supporting the ceasefire understanding between Islamabad and New Delhi and bringing about de-escalation in the region.
In a statement, the foreign office appreciated Trump for expressing his willingness to find a solution to the Kashmir dispute.
“We also appreciate President Trump’s expressed willingness to support efforts aimed at the resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute — a longstanding issue that has serious implications for peace and security in South Asia and beyond,” the foreign office said.
The statement said that Islamabad reaffirms any just and lasting settlement of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute must be in accordance with the United Nations Security Council resolutions.
“Pakistan remains committed to engaging with the United States and the international community in efforts to promote peace, security, and prosperity in the region,” the foreign office said.
“We also look forward to deepening our multifaceted partnership with the United States, particularly in the areas of trade, investment, and economic cooperation.”
’FAITHFUL’ CEASEFIRE IMPLEMENTATION’
The ceasefire announcement came after the Pakistan military said early on Saturday it had launched retaliatory strikes against India, accusing it of attacking three bases in Pakistan with missiles.
Pakistan’s military said it had targeted multiple bases in India in response, including a missile storage site in India’s north, as part of a military operation it named “Bunyan-um-Marsoos.”
Within hours of the ceasefire announcement on Saturday afternoon, however, India accused Islamabad of violating it by targeting Srinagar city in Indian-administered Kashmir.
Pakistan’s Information Minister Ata Tarar denied the allegation, saying people in his country were celebrating the end of the conflict and the government remained committed to the agreement.
The foreign office of Pakistan also maintained the country remained committed to the “faithful implementation” of the ceasefire.
