U.S. President Donald Trump has offered to help broker a resolution to the long-standing Kashmir dispute between India and Pakistan, calling for a solution even if it takes “a thousand years,” as per Al Jazeera.
His remarks, posted Sunday on Truth Social, come just a day after India and Pakistan agreed to a new ceasefire following intense cross-border violence.
“I will work with you, both to see if, after a ‘thousand years,’ a solution can be arrived at concerning Kashmir,” Trump wrote, taking credit for facilitating the latest ceasefire deal. “I am proud that the USA was able to help you arrive at this historic and heroic decision.”
Trump’s remarks stirred controversy, particularly due to his historically inaccurate assertion that India and Pakistan have been fighting over Kashmir for over a millennium. In reality, the conflict dates back to the 1947 partition of British India, which led to three wars between the two nuclear-armed neighbors over the Muslim-majority region.
Tensions flared again recently following a deadly shooting in the tourist town of Pahalgam in India-administered Kashmir, which killed 26 civilians. India blamed Pakistan for backing the attackers, while Islamabad denied the charges, accusing India of orchestrating a “false flag” operation.
In response, the two countries engaged in a series of retaliatory missile, drone, and artillery strikes—the most severe clashes since both nations became nuclear powers. The situation drew urgent diplomatic attention, culminating in a ceasefire agreement announced Saturday.
Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry welcomed Trump’s comments and his willingness to assist in resolving the Kashmir issue, saying the dispute holds major implications for regional and global peace.
“Pakistan reaffirms that any just and lasting settlement of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute must be in accordance with relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions and must ensure the realization of the fundamental rights of the Kashmiri people, including their inalienable right to self-determination,” the ministry said.
India has yet to officially respond to Trump’s remarks. However, Indian media cited unnamed government sources saying there were no current plans to expand talks beyond the ceasefire agreement. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government has historically rejected international mediation on Kashmir, viewing it as an internal matter.
In 2019, Modi’s government revoked the limited autonomy of India-administered Kashmir, intensifying the conflict and further alienating local residents. India maintains a military presence of over 700,000 troops in the region, which has experienced decades of unrest and calls for either independence or unification with Pakistan.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed that broader talks between India and Pakistan would soon take place at a neutral location. Issues on the table include the long-disputed Kashmir region and water-sharing concerns under the Indus Waters Treaty, which India suspended participation in during the latest flare-up.
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif reiterated his support for negotiations, saying Pakistan believes in resolving disputes peacefully, including the Kashmir issue. India, meanwhile, expelled Pakistani diplomats and suspended bilateral trade, prompting reciprocal actions from Islamabad, including the closure of its airspace to Indian flights.
Analysts say Trump’s statements could provoke unease in New Delhi. “Any suggestion of third-party involvement, even in passing, crosses a red line for New Delhi,” said Mohmad Waseem Malla, a research fellow at the International Centre for Peace Studies. “The government’s foreign policy under Modi is firmly rooted in non-interference and national sovereignty.”
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