US President Donald Trump has denounced the recent terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, as “a bad one”. Addressing reporters on board Air Force One while traveling to Rome, Trump recognized the longstanding tensions between India and Pakistan and hoped that the two countries would resolve their issues.

I am very close to India, and I’m very close to Pakistan, and they’ve had that fight for a thousand years in Kashmir. Kashmir has been going on for a thousand years, probably longer than that. That was a bad one (terrorist attack),” Trump said, as quoted by ANI.

Trump Recalls Ancient India-Pakistan Conflict

Referring to the history of conflict in the area, Trump stated, “There have been tensions on that border for 1,500 years. It’s been the same, but I am sure they’ll figure it out one way or the other. I know both leaders. There’s great tension between Pakistan and India, but there always has been.

His statement came in the wake of a deadly terror attack on Pahalgam that left 26 dead, of whom the majority were tourists. The attack is one of the deadliest Jammu and Kashmir has ever witnessed since the Pulwama bombing of 2019.

India Reacts with Forceful Actions Against Pakistan

After the April 22 Pahalgam attack, the Indian government took a number of retaliatory measures against Pakistan. They involved suspending the Indus Waters Treaty, expulsion of Pakistani defence attaches, and closure of the Attari land-transit terminal.

New Delhi also cancelled all visas granted to Pakistani nationals as of April 27 and told Indian citizens staying in Pakistan to return at once.

Pakistan Retaliates, Rejects Indus Treaty Suspension

Pakistan retaliated with the closure of its airspace to Indian airlines and the suspension of trade with India, even indirectly via third countries. Islamabad dismissed India’s suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty and cautioned that trying to stop Pakistan’s allocation of water under the agreement would be viewed as an “act of war”.

PM Modi Promises Justice to Pahalgam Victims

The assault has brought national indignation in India. Prime Minister Narendra Modi promised to take the perpetrators to task, declaring, “The killers of Pahalgam will be pursued to the ends of the earth.” He added further that the authorities will “identify, track and punish every terrorist and their backers.”.