U.S. President Donald Trump has called the standoff between Pakistan and India a "very dangerous situation" and warned that New Delhi is considering "something very strong" after an attack on its forces in the disputed region of Kashmir.
"It's very dangerous situation between the two countries. We would like to see it stop," Trump said on February 22.
"Right now, there is a lot of problems between India and Pakistan because of what happened," he told reporters in the Oval Office.
"India is looking at something very strong. India just lost almost 50 people with an attack. So I can understand that also," he added.
India has blamed Pakistan for a February 14 attack in Indian-administered Kashmir that killed more than 40 soldiers, and it has warned its neighbor of a "jaw-breaking response."
Islamabad has denied any involvement and warned New Delhi against any "misadventure,” vowing to retaliate if it comes under attack.
The attack on Indian troops was claimed by the Pakistan-based Jaish-e Mohammad (JeM) militant group.
The Indian Foreign Ministry accused the Pakistani government of providing the militant group with a safe haven and allowing its leader, Masood Azhar, "to operate and expand his terror infrastructure in territories under the control of Pakistan and to carry out attacks in India and elsewhere with impunity.”
India has long accused Pakistan of supporting militants in Muslim-majority Kashmir, which is divided between the two nuclear archrivals but claimed in full by both since independence from British colonial rule in 1947. The two neighbors have fought two of their three wars over the Himalayan territory.
Washington in recent years has made a bid to improve ties with New Delhi, seeing India has an ally in the fight against Islamic militants.
Trump has also accused Islamabad of providing a safe haven for terror groups based in Pakistan and with not doing enough to stop them from conducting attacks across the border, including in Afghanistan against U.S. and Afghan troops.
The U.S. administration in 2018 slashed its military aid to Pakistan, saying that Islamabad had not done enough to fight extremists.
Still, in his remarks on February 22, Trump said the United States has developed a "much better" relationship with Pakistan in the "last short period of time" and that he might set up meetings with Islamabad over the current situation.
Editors' Picks
Afghanistan/Pakistan Trending
1
After Key Report On Afghanistan, State Department Says Taliban Was Keeping Aid
2Bad Move: Taliban's Chess Ban Adds To Crackdown On Sports And Pastimes
3US Court Temporarily Halts Bid To End Protection Status For Afghans
4UK Data Leak Spurs Costly Afghan Resettlement And Security Fears
5Taliban Restrictions Blamed For Surge In Suicides Among Afghans
6Four Years On, UN Says Taliban Close To 'Erasing' Afghan Women From Public Life
7An Afghan Singer, Once Propelled To Fame On TV Show, Goes Missing In Kabul
8Afghan Expert Says Sudden Cutoff In US Aid Has Hit The Vulnerable Hard
9Masses Of Afghans Being Deported From Pakistan Face Angst And Uncertainty
10Barred From Studying, Afghan Woman Uses Tech Skills To Keep Power Running
RFE/RL has been declared an "undesirable organization" by the Russian government.
If you are in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine and hold a Russian passport or are a stateless person residing permanently in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine, please note that you could face fines or imprisonment for sharing, liking, commenting on, or saving our content, or for contacting us.
To find out more, click here.