Trump Terms Indian Missile Strikes on Pakistan “A Shame”

Washington, The Gulf Observer: U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday described India’s missile strikes on Pakistani cities and parts of Azad Jammu and Kashmir as “a shame” and expressed hope that the cross-border hostilities between the two nuclear-armed neighbors would end swiftly.

Speaking to reporters at the White House during the swearing-in ceremony of Steve Witkoff as Special Envoy to the Middle East, Trump commented on the situation, saying, “It’s a shame. We just heard about it as we were walking through the doors of the Oval.” He further noted, “They’ve been fighting for a long time … I just hope it ends very quickly.”

India carried out multiple missile strikes overnight on six sites in Pakistan, including Kotli, Bahawalpur, Muridke, Bagh, and Muzaffarabad, reportedly in response to the April 22 attack in Indian-occupied Kashmir that killed 26 people. New Delhi has accused Islamabad of involvement—an allegation that Pakistan has categorically denied.

In Islamabad, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif issued a strong condemnation of the Indian air strikes, labeling them an “act of war” and vowing a firm response. “Pakistan has every right to give a robust response to this act of war imposed by India, and a strong response is indeed being given,” he said in a statement. “The Pakistani nation and the Pakistan Armed Forces know very well how to deal with the enemy. We will never let the enemy succeed in its nefarious objectives.”

At the United Nations Headquarters in New York, Secretary-General António Guterres expressed grave concern over the escalating military tensions. “The Secretary-General is very concerned about the Indian military operations across the Line of Control and international border,” UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric stated.

“He calls for maximum military restraint from both countries. The world cannot afford a military confrontation between India and Pakistan,” the statement added.

The crisis has prompted urgent international calls for de-escalation, as fears mount over the potential for wider conflict between the two longtime rivals, both of whom possess nuclear weapons.

The situation remains fluid, with diplomatic channels reportedly being activated in Washington, Beijing, and other capitals to contain the fallout and prevent further escalation.