On Wednesday, President Donald Trump expressed a willingness to mediate escalating tensions between India and Pakistan, which have intensified following a recent terrorist attack in Kashmir.
His remarks came just hours after India reported that its military had executed strikes against targets in Pakistan early Wednesday morning.
“It’s terrible,” Trump remarked about the ongoing conflict.
Speaking from the Oval Office after the swearing-in ceremony for former Georgia Senator David Perdue as U.S. ambassador to China, Trump emphasized his relationships with both nations. “My position is I get along with both,” he stated.
“I know both very well, and I want to see them work it out,” he continued. “I want to see them stop, and hopefully they can stop now.” He indicated that the United States maintains strong relations with both countries and is eager to see an end to the cycle of retaliation.
“If I can do anything to help, I will be there,” Trump assured.
On Tuesday evening, Trump informed reporters at the White House that the conflict between India and Pakistan has persisted for “a long time,” hinting that the current escalation may have been anticipated “based on a little bit of the past.”
India has accused Pakistan of orchestrating the April 22 attack that resulted in the deaths of 26 civilians in the Indian-administered region of Kashmir.
Both countries stake claims to the entirety of Kashmir, a region that has long been a point of contention between them.
