U.S. President Donald Trump has described India’s missile strike on Pakistan as “a shame” and expressed hope for a swift end to the escalating conflict between the two nuclear-armed nations.
Speaking at the White House during the swearing-in of Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, Trump told reporters, “It’s a shame. We just heard about it as we were walking into the Oval Office. Just heard about it.” He added, “They’ve been fighting for many, many decades… I hope it ends very quickly.”
Trump’s remarks followed reports from Pakistan’s military spokesperson (DG ISPR) confirming that Indian airstrikes had targeted five locations—Kotli, Bahawalpur, Muzaffarabad, Bagh, and Muridke—hitting civilian areas including a mosque. According to Pakistani security sources, three people, including a child, were killed in the attack.
Pakistan responded by shooting down two Indian jets and assured that all its aircraft were secure. Retaliatory operations were launched shortly after the strikes.
India’s Defense Ministry acknowledged the attacks but claimed nine unspecified targets. In response, Pakistan closed its airspace over Islamabad, issued a “red alert,” and rerouted all flights. DG ISPR condemned the strike as “cowardly” and vowed retaliation “at a time and place of Pakistan’s choosing.” A blackout was reported in Muzaffarabad following the attack.
Tensions soared after the April 22 bombing in Pahalgam, located in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), which claimed 26 lives. India blamed the attack on Pakistan-based elements but provided no evidence, a charge Islamabad strongly denied.
In response to the bombing, India on April 23 closed the Wagah land crossing, suspended the Indus Waters Treaty, and revoked visas for Pakistani citizens. Pakistan, in turn, declared any disruption of water flow an “act of war” and closed its side of the Wagah border.
The diplomatic standoff worsened on April 25 when Pakistan’s Senate unanimously rejected India’s accusations as baseless. A day later, the Pakistani High Commission in London was vandalized during pro-India protests.
