Trump: India-Pakistan Conflict Is Over

UNSPLASH/Joydeep ILLUSTRATION Sensarma

JAKARTA - US President Donald Trump said the hostilities between Pakistan and India had ended after he urged the two countries to focus on trade, not war.

Trump told US troops at bases in Qatar during his visit to the Gulf, Pakistan and India.

The two neighboring countries with nuclear weapons stopped their worst fighting in nearly three decades after agreeing to a ceasefire on Saturday, following diplomacy and pressure from the United States.

Pakistan previously stressed it was committed to a ceasefire with India, which was agreed after four days of intense military fighting last week. But Pakistan pledged to respond to any aggression in the future by New Delhi.

A statement from Islamabad came in response to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's speech on Monday, in which he warned Pakistan New Delhi would target a "terrorist hiding place" across the border again if there was a new attack on India, without being hindered by a "nuclear shell".

The nuclear-armed neighboring South Asian countries fired missiles and drones targeting their respective military installations after India said it attacked "terrorist infrastructure" locations in Pakistan and Pakistanai Wednesday in retaliation for an attack on Hindu tourists in Indiaaim that killed 26 people.

Pakistan said all its targets were civilians and denied India's accusations that it was behind the task force.

Reported by Reuters, Pakistan's military said on Tuesday, May 13, the death toll in the attack consisted of 40 civilians and 11 of its armed forces. India said five military personnel and 16 civilians were killed.

It was the worst fighting between the two countries in nearly three decades and they agreed to a ceasefire on Saturday, following diplomacy and pressure from the United States.

Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Islamabad firmly rejected "provocative and inciting statements" made by Modi on Monday.

"At a time when international efforts are being made for regional peace and stability, this statement is a dangerous escalation," he said.

"Pakistan remains committed to the recent understanding of the ceasefire and is taking the necessary steps towards de-escalation and regional stability," the Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.