New Delhi: On Friday, US President Donald Trump addressed the terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, describing it as a significant incident. While speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One en route to Rome, he acknowledged the longstanding tensions between India and Pakistan, expressing confidence that the two nations would resolve their issues independently.
Trump stated, ‘I have strong ties with both India and Pakistan, and the conflict over Kashmir has persisted for centuries. This attack was particularly severe.’ He further noted, ‘The border has seen tensions for 1,500 years, but I believe they will find a resolution. I am familiar with both leaders, and while the strain between Pakistan and India is notable, it has always existed.’
The Pahalgam attack, which occurred on April 22, resulted in the deaths of 26 individuals, primarily tourists, marking one of the most lethal assaults in the region since the 2019 Pulwama bombing. In response, India implemented several measures against Pakistan, including halting the Indus Waters Treaty, expelling Pakistani military attaches, and closing the Attari land-transit point.
New Delhi has canceled all visas granted to Pakistani citizens effective April 27 and has urged Indian citizens living in Pakistan to return to India. In retaliation to India’s actions, Pakistan announced on Thursday the closure of its airspace to all Indian airlines and the suspension of trade with New Delhi, including through third-party nations.
Furthermore, Pakistan dismissed India’s halt of the Indus Waters Treaty, asserting that any attempts to obstruct the flow of water designated for Pakistan under the agreement would be regarded as an ‘act of war’.
Amid widespread public anger over the attack, Prime Minister Narendra Modi vowed to pursue the perpetrators of the Pahalgam incident ‘to the ends of the earth’, committing to ‘identify, track, and punish every terrorist and their supporters’.
