In his first public reaction to the recent terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam, U.S. President Donald Trump described the incident as a “bad one” while reaffirming his close ties with both India and Pakistan.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump acknowledged the deep-rooted conflict between the two nations over the Kashmir region, stating, “They’ve had that fight for a thousand years in Kashmir. That was a bad one yesterday, over 30 people.” He emphasized confidence that both countries would eventually find a resolution despite centuries of unrest, adding, “There’s great tension between Pakistan and India, but there always has been.”
The attack occurred on April 22, when terrorists opened fire on tourists at Baisaran meadow in Pahalgam, resulting in the deaths of 25 Indian nationals and one Nepali citizen. Several others sustained injuries in the assault, which has intensified diplomatic tensions between India and Pakistan.
In response, the Indian government implemented a series of diplomatic measures. These include the closure of the Integrated Check Post (ICP) at Attari, the suspension of the SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme (SVES) for Pakistani nationals—granting them 40 hours to return home—and a reduction in the number of diplomatic personnel at both countries’ High Commissions.
India also announced a suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, a landmark agreement signed in 1960 after years of negotiation, with the World Bank serving as a mediator and signatory. The treaty, long regarded as a successful model for water-sharing, allocates the western rivers (Indus, Jhelum, Chenab) to Pakistan and the eastern rivers (Ravi, Beas, Sutlej) to India, while allowing limited usage by each country of the other’s allocated rivers. The treaty gives India access to 20% of the Indus River System’s water, with 80% reserved for Pakistan.
The future of the treaty, like broader diplomatic relations, remains uncertain in the wake of the attack.