New York: US President Donald Trump on Friday said there have always been tensions between India and Pakistan and the two countries will figure it out between themselves “one way or the other”.
“I am very close to India and I’m very close to Pakistan, as you know. And they’ve had that fight for 1,000 years in Kashmir. Kashmir has been going on for 1,000 years, probably longer than that. And it was a bad one yesterday, though; that was a bad one. Over 30 people,” Trump said during a press gaggle with reporters aboard Air Force One on the way to Rome.
The US President was asked about tensions between India and Pakistan in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack in which 26 civilians were killed, and if he would be talking to the leaders of the two nations.
Trump said,”… That was a bad one (terrorist attack)… The tensions have always been there (at the Indo-Pak border), but they’ll get it figured out, one way or the other. I know both leaders. There’s great tension between Pakistan and India, but that has always been there …”
Trump earlier this week talked to Indian PM Narendra Modi over the phone and condemned the terror attack, according to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal.
“President Trump strongly condemned the terror attack and expressed full support to India to bring to justice the perpetrators of this heinous attack. India and the United States stand together in the fight against terror,” said Jaiswal, quoting the US President.
Earlier, Trump took to social media to express his deep concern over the Pahalgam attack. In a post on Truth Social, Trump wrote, “Deeply disturbing news out of Kashmir. The United States stands strong with India against Terrorism.”
He went on to offer his condolences and support for the victims, their families, and the people of India, stating, “We pray for the souls of those lost, and for the recovery of the injured.”
While Islamabad denies its involvement in the attack, The Resistance Front (TRF)—a shadow group linked to the banned Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT)—has claimed responsibility for the attack. According to intelligence officials, the terrorists might have crossed over from Kishtwar in Jammu and reached Baisaran via Kokernag in south Kashmir.
