WASHINGTON: United States President Donald Trump on Wednesday offered to mediate between Pakistan and India to help end the escalating hostilities amid fears of a wider regional conflict between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.
Speaking at the White House, Trump expressed concern over the situation and offered to mediate, stating, “We get along with both countries very well, good relationships with both, and I want to see it stop. And if I can do anything to help, I will be there.”
Trump called on Pakistan and India to halt their fighting, the worst violence between the nuclear-armed countries in two decades.
Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, in an interview on Wednesday, warned that if tensions escalate further, there was a real danger of nuclear war.
Earlier, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, in his conversation with the national security advisors of both India and Pakistan, urged both to keep lines of communication open and avoid escalation.
A post on X by the US Department of State said, “Earlier this afternoon, @SecRubio spoke to the national security advisors from India and Pakistan. He urged both to keep lines of communication open and avoid escalation.”
Meanwhile, US Congressman Brad Sherman in a post on X stated: “As Secretary Rubio has urged both India and Pakistan, we must avoid armed conflict and escalation.
India has not provided the world with strong evidence that the terrible terrorist attack in Kashmir was the result of actions taken by the Pakistani government.”
.@POTUS on India and Pakistan: "I get along with both. I know both very well and I want to see them work it out. I want to see them stop." pic.twitter.com/BdQ1acccLI
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) May 7, 2025
The world cannot afford Pakistan-India military confrontation
The United Nations Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, has called for restraint and said that the world cannot afford a military confrontation between India and Pakistan.
In a statement, UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said Secretary General Antonio Guterres has called for restraint from both countries, according to the Associated Press.
“The Secretary-General is very concerned about the Indian military operations across the Line of Control and the international border. He calls for maximum military restraint from both countries. The world cannot afford a military confrontation between India and Pakistan,” said the statement.
The situation between the two nuclear-armed neighbours have been tense since the Pahalgam incident.
India launched strikes on Pakistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir early Wednesday morning, an assault that Islamabad called a “blatant act of war” as tension spirals between the nuclear-armed rivals after a deadly attack on tourists in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).
Islamabad said six Pakistani locations, from mosques to hydropower projects, were targeted, with two dozen weapon impacts, martyring 31 civilians and wounding 57 others.
In an interview, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said Pakistan has faced such threats before, and the region could once again be on the brink of a strategic standoff.
“India is going through a major internal crisis,” Asif noted, adding that New Delhi’s aggression poses a serious threat to regional peace and security.
Risk of nuclear conflict
He stressed that the risk of nuclear conflict is real and cannot be ignored.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday appealed for solidarity after what he called India’s spineless assault, saying Pakistan’s military had hit back hard — a response that underscored the nation’s resolve and combat readiness.
Addressing a session of the National Assembly, the prime minister said that in the darkness of night, India tried to infiltrate into Pakistan as it had in the past, but with the grace of Allah Almighty and with the prayers and support of the nation, the brave armed forces gave them a befitting reply.
Pakistan shoots down five Indian fighter jets
Pakistan shot down five Indian fighter jets, destroyed an Indian brigade headquarters, a drone and several army posts in retaliatory strikes.
In his press conference on Wednesday, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director-General Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry confirmed that all Pakistan Air Force (PAF) jets were safe after engaging Indian jets.
The DG ISPR also added that among the destroyed Indian Air Force (IAF) jets were three French-made Rafales, one Su30MKI and one MIG-29 Fulcrum.
The Pakistan armed forces also destroyed multiple enemy posts in several sectors along the Line of Control (LoC). An intense exchange of fire was reported at the LoC, with the Pakistan Army engaging Indian Army positions.
