United States President Donald Trump stirred controversy by claiming that Pakistan and India have been “fighting over Kashmir for 1,000 years” in his comments regarding the recent conflict between the traditional rival nations.
Tensions are escalating between the nuclear-armed neighbors following a deadly gun attack in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir’s (IIOJK) Pahalgam area, which resulted in the deaths of at least 27 tourists, pushing bilateral relations to a near two-decade low.
Trump made a historically inaccurate statement while speaking to journalists on Air Force One, asserting that both countries had been fighting over Kashmir for a thousand years. “The Kashmir issue has been going on for a thousand years, maybe even longer, and this is a bad situation.”
Despite the factual error, none of the journalists present corrected Trump’s assertion that the Kashmir issue originated from the wrongful partition of the Indian subcontinent in 1947.
When a journalist inquired about Trump’s concerns regarding border tensions between the two countries, he responded that there had been tension on that border for 1,500 years, but they would find a solution to the problem one way or another.
“India and Pakistan will figure out relations between themselves,” he stated.
Trump cited historical conflict in the disputed border region and mentioned knowing both countries’ leaders, but did not respond when asked if he would contact them.
“There’s great tension between Pakistan and India, but there always has been.”
As relations between Pakistan and India deteriorate and the risk of a potential war increases, the United Nations (UN) has urged both countries to exercise “maximum restraint” as the nuclear-armed rivals engage in tit-for-tat diplomatic measures following the deadly shooting.
A day after the attack, New Delhi suspended a water-sharing treaty, announced the closure of the main land border crossing with Pakistan, downgraded diplomatic ties, and withdrew visas for Pakistanis.
In response, Islamabad ordered the expulsion of Indian diplomats and military advisers, canceled visas for Indian nationals (excluding Sikh pilgrims), and closed the main border crossing from its side.
Pakistan also warned that any attempt by India to halt the supply of water from the Indus River would be considered an “act of war.”
Kashmir has been divided between India and Pakistan since their independence in 1947. India has yet to fulfill its promise of holding a UN-mandated plebiscite.
Rebel groups have been waging an insurgency in IIOJK since 1989, demanding independence.
