Washington DC [US]: Amid rising tensions following India’s military strikes against terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK), US President Donald Trump on Wednesday offered to mediate and assist in efforts to de-escalate the crisis between the two nuclear-armed neighbors.
Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump described the violence triggered by the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack as “terrible” and emphasized his desire for both nations to resolve the conflict peacefully.
“Oh it’s so terrible! My position is I get along with both. I know both very well and I want to see them work it out… Hopefully they can stop now,” Trump said.
“If I can do anything to help, I will. I will be there,” he added.
The remarks come amid heightened hostilities, with India conducting precision strikes under Operation Sindoor in retaliation for the killing of 26 civilians in Pahalgam, and Pakistan responding with artillery shelling in border districts, leading to numerous civilian and military casualties.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio also weighed in, stating via X (formerly Twitter) that he is “closely monitoring the situation between India and Pakistan.” Echoing the president’s sentiment, Rubio called for swift de-escalation and reaffirmed continued engagement with both governments.
“I echo President Trump’s comments earlier today that this hopefully ends quickly and will continue to engage both Indian and Pakistani leadership towards a peaceful resolution,” Rubio posted.
The US State Department acknowledged the evolving situation but refrained from issuing a formal assessment. A spokesperson said:
“We are aware of the reports, however, we have no assessment to offer at this time. This remains an evolving situation, and we are closely monitoring developments.”
The U.S. comments signal growing international concern over renewed hostilities in the region, with leaders calling for restraint amid fears of broader conflict.