US President Donald Trump, speaking aboard Air Force One en route to Rome, commented on the ongoing India-Pakistan tensions following the deadly Pahalgam terror attack. Trump described the conflict between the two nations as one that has been “going on for 1,000 years, probably longer,” though historians point out this is a vast exaggeration. He added that tensions along the India-Pakistan border have lasted “1,500 years,” and expressed confidence that both nations will eventually find a way to resolve their differences, even as he avoided offering to mediate. For India, Trump’s statement came as a relief, given his previous controversial remarks in 2019 suggesting he would mediate on Kashmir—a claim swiftly rejected by New Delhi at the time.

Responding to a reporter’s question about potential US intervention, Trump emphasized his closeness with both India and Pakistan but firmly placed the onus of resolution on the two countries themselves. Referring to the Pahalgam terror attack that claimed over 26 lives, Trump called it a “bad one” and noted that the underlying tensions have always been part of the regional dynamic. His latest comments, though historically inaccurate, signal a step back from his earlier willingness to involve the United States in the Kashmir dispute—reassuring India’s longstanding position that all outstanding issues with Pakistan must be addressed bilaterally, without external mediation.

Back in July 2019, Trump’s mediation claim had stirred a political storm in India, prompting a strong denial from the Ministry of External Affairs. Officials reiterated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had made no such request and cited the Shimla Agreement and Lahore Declaration as the foundation for resolving India-Pakistan disputes bilaterally. This time, however, Delhi noted Trump’s remarks with cautious relief, interpreting them as a reaffirmation of the bilateral nature of the Kashmir issue despite the President’s characteristic exaggerations and rhetorical style.