Pakistan on Sunday welcomed U.S. President Donald Trump’s statement on the Kashmir dispute as well as wider ties between Pakistan and India.
“I am very proud of the strong and unwaveringly powerful leadership of India and Pakistan for having the strength, wisdom, and fortitude to fully know and understand that it was time to stop the current aggression that could have led to the death and destruction of so many, and so much,” Trump wrote in a post on his TruthSocial platform.
“Millions of good and innocent people could have died! Your legacy is greatly enhanced by your brave actions,” he continued. “I am proud that the USA was able to help you arrive at this historic and heroic decision,” he said, referring to the role played by Washington in achieving a ceasefire between the two states as they struck each other’s military infrastructure on Saturday.
“While not even discussed, I am going to increase trade, substantially, with both of these great nations,” he said. “Additionally, I will work with you both to see if, after a ‘thousand years,’ a solution can be arrived at concerning Kashmir. God Bless the leadership of India and Pakistan on a job well done!!!” he concluded.
Welcoming the statement, Pakistan’s Foreign Office appreciated the “constructive role” played by the U.S. and other friendly states in supporting the ceasefire, describing it as a “step toward de-escalation and regional stability.”
It said Pakistan also appreciated Trump’s expressed willingness to support efforts aimed at the resolution of the longstanding Jammu and Kashmir dispute, stressing Pakistan believes any just and lasting settlement must be in accordance with relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions. Additionally, any potential solution must ensure the realization of the fundamental rights of the Kashmiri people, including their inalienable right to self-determination.
Stressing that Pakistan remains committed to engaging with the U.S. and the international community in efforts to promote peace, security, and prosperity in South Asia, the Foreign Office said Islamabad would also look forward to improving its multifaceted partnership with Washington, especially in the areas of trade, investment, and economic cooperation.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also welcomed Trump’s statement, praising Trump for “his path-breaking leadership and commitment to global peace and for his most valuable offer to play a greater role in bringing lasting peace to South Asia.” In a posting on X, he noted that Pakistan and the U.S. had worked together for decades to “protect and promote our mutual interests as well as for peace and security in critical parts” of the world.
“I am confident that in President Trump, Pakistan has found a great partner, who can reinvigorate our strategic partnership and strengthen Pakistan-U.S. ties, not only in trade and investment but in all other areas of cooperation,” he added.
This isn’t the first time Trump has offered to mediate on Kashmir. In his first term, he had conveyed a similar offer to then-prime minister Imran Khan. India, however, has repeatedly rebuffed such offers, maintaining Kashmir is a bilateral dispute. Unlike Islamabad, Delhi has thus far also shied from accepting Washington’s role in mediating a ceasefire following last week’s military exchange between the neighboring countries that brought them to the brink of war.