Former U.S. President Donald Trump and the United Nations have called for restraint as tensions between India and Pakistan reach dangerous new heights following a deadly attack in Indian-occupied Kashmir and a series of retaliatory measures from both sides.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump downplayed the crisis, suggesting the long-standing India-Pakistan conflict over Kashmir has persisted for “1,500 years,” and expressed hope that the two nations would eventually “figure it out.” He added, “I’m very close to India and I’m very close to Pakistan,” avoiding any firm commitment to intervene diplomatically.
The comments come after a brutal gun attack in Pahalgam, a popular tourist area, left 26 dead and 17 injured. In response, India unilaterally suspended the Indus Waters Treaty—a decades-old water-sharing agreement mediated by the World Bank—and imposed additional diplomatic and economic restrictions on Pakistan.
Pakistan quickly retaliated, closing its airspace and the Wagah border, suspending trade with India, and threatening to freeze all bilateral agreements, including the Simla Accord. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif chaired a high-level National Security Committee (NSC) meeting to chart Pakistan’s response, with both civilian and military leaders present.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi briefed President Asif Ali Zardari on India’s “baseless allegations” and “irresponsible behavior,” reiterating that Pakistan’s defence is “impregnable” and that the nation stands united.
Meanwhile, UN Secretary-General António Guterres expressed deep concern over the escalating situation and urged both countries to exercise “maximum restraint.” His spokesperson warned against further actions that could worsen an already fragile situation.
The Foreign Office in Islamabad also briefed foreign diplomats, strongly rejecting Indian accusations and warning that politicizing terrorism could threaten broader regional peace.
With cross-border skirmishes already reported, the region appears poised for a deeper crisis unless diplomacy prevails.
