Donald Trump's message amid the India-Pakistan ceasefire: "It was time to stop the aggression."
Donald Trump congratulated the leaders of India and Pakistan for reaching a ceasefire after several days of armed clashes that left at least 60 dead in the Kashmir region. In a message published on Truth Social , the US president praised the "strength, wisdom, and determination" of the leaders of both countries and asserted that his administration contributed to achieving the understanding. He also announced his intention to increase bilateral trade with New Delhi and Islamabad , and pledged to promote dialogue to find a lasting solution to the conflict.
“I am very proud of the strong and unwaveringly powerful leadership of India and Pakistan for having the fortitude, wisdom, and determination to understand that it was time to stop the current aggression that could have led to the death and destruction of so many. Millions of good and innocent people could have died!” Trump wrote. “I am proud that the United States was able to help them reach this historic and heroic decision,” he added.
The publication came just one day after Trump announced the cessation of hostilities between the two nuclear powers and the governments of India and Pakistan confirmed the agreement's entry into force. On Saturday, the US president had announced that it was a "total and immediate ceasefire," which was interpreted as a gesture of international mediation that helped prevent a larger escalation of the war.
In his message, Trump also stated that he would seek to increase trade with both countries and expressed his willingness to intervene to find a consensual solution to the particular situation that became the scene of the war. "I will work with both of them to see if, after 'a thousand years,' a solution can be reached regarding Kashmir," he concluded.
The conflict escalated on April 22 with an attack in the Indian-administered region, killing 26 tourists , mostly Hindus. New Delhi blamed the Pakistan-based Islamist group Lashkar-e-Taiba , a terrorist organization designated by the United Nations. Islamabad denied any involvement and disputed the accusations. That incident was followed by several days of clashes involving the use of missiles, drones, heavy artillery, and fighter jets.
During the escalation, the Pakistani military claimed to have shot down at least 77 high-tech drones, while India claimed to have destroyed hundreds of devices, many of them Turkish-made. Pakistan also reported the destruction of five Indian aircraft, including three French Rafale fighter jets, a report that was not confirmed by authorities in New Delhi.
In this context, the ceasefire announcement was greeted with relief internationally. United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres hailed the news as a "positive step" and expressed hope that it could become the basis for "lasting peace," according to his spokesperson.
However, a few hours after the announcement, new armed incidents were reported , calling into question the stability of the agreement. In Srinagar, the main city in Indian-controlled Kashmir, AFP journalists reported nighttime explosions and the activation of the air defense system. At the same time, Pakistani authorities indicated that "intermittent exchanges of fire" had occurred at at least three points along the Line of Control, the de facto border in the region.
From the Indian government, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri held Islamabad responsible for these actions and called for a strong response. "We call on Pakistan to take appropriate measures to respond to these violations and to treat the situation seriously and responsibly," he said. For its part, the Pakistani Foreign Ministry maintained that it "remains committed to the faithful implementation" of the ceasefire and emphasized that its troops are "handling the situation with responsibility and restraint." At the same time, it denounced that it was India that violated the agreement.
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