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By Khaleda Rahman
National Correspondent
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President Donald Trump has offered to help India and Pakistan resolve the dispute over Kashmir.
Newsweek has contacted the White House for comment via an email sent outside regular business hours.
Why It Matters
Trump's offer came after the countries agreed to a ceasefire on Saturday to end the most serious confrontation between the nuclear-armed rivals in decades, although both sides have already accused the other of violating the agreement.
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It followed weeks of escalating clashes, including missile and drone strikes, triggered by the mass shooting of tourists last month that India blames on Pakistan, which denies involvement in the killings.
India and Pakistan each control parts of Kashmir, but claim it in full. The two countries have periodically engaged in wars, clashes and skirmishes since gaining independence from British India in 1947.
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What To Know
"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 Truth Social platform.
"While not even discussed, I am going to increase trade, substantially, with both of these great Nations," Trump added. "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!!!"
The first word of the ceasefire had come from Trump earlier on Saturday, who posted on Truth Social that India and Pakistan had agreed to a full and immediate ceasefire after "a long night of talks mediated by the United States.
"Congratulations to both Countries on using Common Sense and Great Intelligence," he wrote. "Thank you for your attention to this matter!"
But hours after the agreement, both New Delhi and Islamabad accused each other of violating the deal after explosions were heard in both the India- and Pakistan-administered parts of Kashmir.
Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said late on Saturday that "there had been repeated violations of the understanding arrived between the two countries" and accused Pakistan of breaching the agreement.
"We call upon Pakistan to take appropriate steps to address these violations and deal with the situation with seriousness and responsibility," he said at a news conference in New Delhi.
Misri added that the Indian army was "retaliating" for what he called a "border intrusion."
In Islamabad, Pakistan's Foreign Ministry blamed Indian forces for initiating the ceasefire violation.
The ministry said Islamabad remains committed to the agreement and its forces were handling the situation with "responsibility and restraint."
"We believe that any issues in the smooth implementation of the ceasefire should be addressed through communication at appropriate levels," the ministry said.
What People Are Saying
Hassan Abbas, a distinguished professor of International Relations at the Near East South Asia Center for Strategic Studies in Washington D.C., wrote on X, formerly Twitter: "This is a remarkable statement from President Trump. Resolving the Kashmir issue would indeed be a historic breakthrough, opening avenues for long-lasting peace and stability in South Asia. It's easier said than done."
Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif wrote in a post on X on Saturday: "We thank President Trump for his leadership and proactive role for peace in the region. Pakistan appreciates the United States for facilitating this outcome, which we have accepted in the interest of regional peace and stability."
Representative Andy Ogles, a Tennessee Republican, wrote on X: "Only a leader with true resolve, like President Trump, could bring nuclear rivals like India and Pakistan to the table. This isn't diplomacy for show. It's peace through strength, grounded in moral clarity and backed by American might."
China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Saturday, per CNN: "The current international situation is complex and turbulent, and the peace and stability of Asia are hard-won and should be treasured."
What's Next
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Saturday that the governments of India and Pakistan had agreed to start talks on a broad set of issues at a neutral site.
Both countries have called for the ceasefire to be maintained, while accusing the other of breaching the agreement.
This article includes reporting from The Associated Press.
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