Washington: U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday called for de-escalation between India and Pakistan, urging the two nuclear-armed neighbors to refrain from further retaliatory actions after what he described as a “tit-for-tat” exchange.
Trump, speaking at the White House, acknowledged the complex relationship between the South Asian rivals and said he hoped the current flare-up would not intensify further. “They’ve gone tit-for-tat, so hopefully they can stop now,” he said. “And if I can do anything to help, I will be there.” He emphasized his familiarity with both governments, saying he knew both sides “very well” and expressed his desire to “see them work it out.” Trump also described the growing tensions as “a shame”.
The latest conflict erupted on Wednesday when India launched missile strikes on targets in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir. Islamabad responded by claiming to have shot down several Indian aircraft and vowed to retaliate. This marks the most severe military confrontation between the two nations in more than twenty years.
US President Trump offered to help India and Pakistan, urging both nations to stop their hostilities as tensions escalate https://t.co/KboTHCBcCj pic.twitter.com/n8E0HGQe0V
— Reuters (@Reuters) May 8, 2025
The United States, which maintains strategic relationships with both countries, has engaged diplomatically in an attempt to reduce hostilities. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, in a separate development, held a phone conversation with his Saudi counterpart to discuss possible steps for de-escalation, the U.S. State Department confirmed.
India stated that its missile strikes targeted “terrorist infrastructure” allegedly linked to the April 22 attack in India-administered Kashmir that left 26 dead. India has blamed the attack on Pakistan-based militants. Pakistan, however, denied the accusations and called for an impartial international investigation.
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In its official response, Pakistan claimed that more than 30 people were killed during India’s missile strikes. The incident has sparked global concern over the potential for wider regional instability.
The U.S. has maintained open communication lines with both New Delhi and Islamabad in recent days, particularly following India’s latest military actions. While Washington had earlier supported India’s stance after the April attack, it refrained from directly condemning Pakistan.
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Analysts suggest that with the U.S. heavily involved in diplomatic efforts related to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the ongoing war in Gaza, Washington may be less proactive in mediating between India and Pakistan during the early phases of this conflict.
