US President Donald Trump said Wednesday he wants India and Pakistan to “stop” the conflict, saying if he can do anything to “help”, he will be there.
New Delhi:US President Donald Trump said Wednesday he wants India and Pakistan to “stop” the conflict, saying if he can do anything to “help”, he will be there. “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. I want to see them stop and hopefully they can stop now. They have gone tit for tat, so hopefully they can stop now. I know both, we get along with both the countries very well… (I have) good relationships with both and I want to see it stop. And If I can do anything to help, I will be there,” Mr Trump was quoted as saying in response to a question on the “war” between India and Pakistan.
Concerned over the “escalating hostilities” between India and Pakistan, UN General Assembly president Philemon Yang also urged the neighbours to exercise restraint and initiate steps to defuse the tension. He also advocated “dialogue and diplomatic solutions in line with the UN Charter and international law” for lasting peace.
The rising tensions between India and Pakistan was debated at length in the British Parliament, with members across parties appealing for UK efforts to aid de-escalation in the region, according to reports from London. UK foreign office minister Hamish Falconer opened the debate in the House of Commons on Wednesday with a statement reiterating Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s earlier remarks over the importance of diplomacy and dialogue. He also expressed concerns related to the very “personal” aspect of the conflict for a large number of British Indians and British Pakistanis in the country.
“Our consistent message to both India and Pakistan has been to show restraint. They need to engage in dialogue to find a swift, diplomatic path forward,” said Mr Falconer. “The UK has a close and unique relationship with both countries. It is heartbreaking to see civilian lives being lost. If this escalates further, nobody wins. We clearly condemned the horrific terrorist attack last month,” Mr Falconer said, referring to the Pahalgam terror attack. “Now, we need all sides to focus urgently on the steps needed to restore regional stability and ensure the protection of civilians,” he added.
A top American military commander said, meanwhile, that the US is “watching the situation very closely” after Indian military strikes on terror targets in PoK and Pakistan’s Punjab province. “It’s right now too early to opine on any of that. We're watching the situation very closely,” the US Army’s Indo-Pacific Command’s top officer, Gen. Ronald Clark, said at a digital press briefing Wednesday.
US Senate Foreign Relations Committee chairman Senator Jim Risch also voiced support for India’s efforts to bring the Pahalgam attackers to justice but expressed concern over the escalating tensions between New Delhi and Islamabad. “The escalating tension between India and Pakistan is concerning. I support the Indian government’s pursuit of justice against the attackers in Pahalgam, but I urge caution and respect for civilians on both sides.”
