ISLAMABAD: US President Donald Trump on Sunday appreciated the leadership of both India and Pakistan for having the wisdom to agree to a ceasefire after days of increasing hostilities, vowing to increase trade “substantially” with both South Asian rivals.
This was posted by the American president on his Truth Social platform, a day after he announced Washington had brokered a ceasefire agreement between India and Pakistan.
The nuclear-armed nations exchanged missiles and drone attacks this week, raising widespread fears of a nuclear confrontation between the two. Relations between India and Pakistan deteriorated after Delhi blamed Islamabad for backing an attack on tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir that killed 26.
Islamabad denied involvement, with tensions reaching a boiling point after India fired missiles at what it said were “terrorist infrastructure” in Pakistan this week, killing several. Pakistan said India had killed only civilians, vowing retribution.
“I am proud that the USA was able to help you arrive at this historic and heroic decision,” Trump said, referring to the ceasefire.
“While not even discussed, I am going to increase trade, substantially, with both of these great Nations.”
The US is an important trade partner of Pakistan, with Washington’s goods exports to Pakistan reaching $2.1 billion in 2024, up 4.4 percent ($90.9 million) from 2023, according to US government data.
The import of goods from Pakistan to the US totaled $5.1 billion in 2024, up 4.9 percent ($238.7 million) from 2023.
The US considers India its key strategic ally and has bolstered trade and defense ties with New Delhi in recent years to counter Beijing’s rising influence in Asia.
‘A THOUSAND YEARS’
India and Pakistan have fought two out of three wars since 1947, when both gained independence from British colonial India, over the disputed Himalayan territory of Kashmir.
Both countries claim the region entirely but govern only parts of it. The part administered by Pakistan is known as Azad Kashmir.
In his Truth Social post, the American president said he would try to resolve the Kashmir dispute between the two nations.
“Additionally, I will work with you both to see if, after a ‘thousand years,’ a solution can be arrived at concerning Kashmir,” he wrote.
“God Bless the leadership of India and Pakistan on a job well done!!!“
The ceasefire announcement came after the Pakistan military said early on Saturday it had launched retaliatory strikes against India, accusing it of attacking three bases in Pakistan with missiles.
Pakistan’s military said it had targeted multiple bases in India in response, including a missile storage site in India’s north, as part of an operation it named “Bunyan-um-Marsoos.”
Within hours of the ceasefire announcement on Saturday afternoon, however, India accused Islamabad of violating it by targeting Srinagar city in Indian-administered Kashmir.
Pakistan’s Information Minister Ata Tarar denied the allegation, saying people in his country were celebrating the end of the conflict and the government remained committed to the agreement.
The foreign office of Pakistan also maintained the country remained committed to the “faithful implementation” of the ceasefire.
