Washington DC: US President Donald Trump on Friday condemned the deadly terror attack in Kashmir’s Pahalgam region, calling it a “bad one,” while expressing hope that India and Pakistan would resolve the long-running conflict between themselves.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump said he was ‘very close’ to both countries and acknowledged the historical tensions over the Kashmir region.
“They’ve had that fight for a thousand years in Kashmir. Kashmir has been going on for a thousand years, probably longer than that, and it (terrorist attack) was a bad one yesterday, that was a bad one, over 30 people,” Trump said, referring to Tuesday’s terror attack in the that left 26 dead, according to Indian officials.
When asked about the Kashmir dispute, the president noted, “Tensions on that border for 1,500 years. So, you know, it’s been the same, but I am sure they’ll get it figured out one way or the other. I know both leaders, there’s great tension between Pakistan and India, but there always has been.”
Earlier this week, Trump had spoken with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, condemning what he described as a “heinous” act of terror and pledging full US support in bringing those responsible to justice.
The Baisaran massacre marked the deadliest attack in Kashmir in nearly two decades. Gunmen opened fire at a popular tourist site near Pahalgam, killing dozens and injuring several others. The attack has significantly worsened already fraught ties between New Delhi and Islamabad.
In response, India has taken a series of diplomatic and strategic measures. These include the closure of the Integrated Check Post (ICP) at Attari, suspension of the SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme (SVES) for Pakistani nationals, and a reciprocal reduction in diplomatic staff at both High Commissions.
New Delhi also moved to suspend the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty, a landmark agreement brokered by the World Bank that governs the use of rivers flowing from India into Pakistan. On Friday, Indian officials said plans were being laid out to ensure that “not a single drop” of Indus River water is allowed to flow into Pakistan.
The government has outlined a three-pronged approach — involving short-term, mid-term, and long-term infrastructure projects — to divert the river’s flow and harness it fully within Indian territory.
As regional tensions spiral, Trump’s remarks signal a cautious U.S. posture — supportive of India’s counterterrorism response, yet steering clear of direct intervention in the subcontinent’s most entrenched geopolitical dispute.
