Key Points
- Trump claimed credit for preventing war
- He praises leaders, offers help to resolve Kashmir issue
- Trump is successful in bringing parties to negotiating table: Tammy Bruce
ISLAMABAD: The United States (US) Department of State reaffirmed President Donald Trump’s commitment to addressing the Kashmir dispute, stating that every step he takes is aimed at resolving longstanding conflicts between nations.
President Trump had previously expressed willingness to help mediate the Kashmir issue, following his role in brokering a ceasefire between India and Pakistan after their most serious military escalation in decades.
Praising the leaders of both nations for achieving peace, he said, “I will work with both of you to see if, after a ‘thousand years’, a solution can be found regarding Kashmir.”
When asked about the steps the US intends to take in light of Trump’s offer, State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce, during a press briefing at the White House, responded, “While I cannot speak to his specific plans, the world is familiar with his nature, and I am not in a position to discuss the details of what he might pursue in this matter.”
She added that the White House would address the issue further in due course.
Negotiating table
Bruce said, “President Trump has been uniquely successful in bringing parties to the negotiating table for discussions previously thought impossible,” expressing optimism that a resolution to the Kashmir dispute could also be achieved.
“It should not come as a surprise that he would want to take on something of this nature,” she remarked.
Speaking about a recent visit by a Pakistani delegation led by Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, Bruce said the group held meetings with State Department officials in Washington, including Under Secretary for Political Affairs Allison Hooker.
She explained that the discussions covered matters concerning the US-Pakistan bilateral relationship, including cooperation on counterterrorism. Hooker reiterated American support for the current ceasefire.
Comprehensive engagement campaign
Bruce also noted that Deputy Secretary Christopher Landau had met with an Indian parliamentary delegation the previous week, reaffirming the United States’ strong support for India in its fight against terrorism.
Pakistan has initiated a comprehensive engagement campaign in the US to communicate its stance on the recent rise in tensions with India and to counter India’s expanding lobbying efforts in the country.
Meanwhile, during a conversation with journalists in the Oval Office last week, Trump emphatically claimed credit for preventing war between India and Pakistan.
“They never give me credit, but no one else could have stopped it,” he stated.
