U.S. President Donald Trump said Saturday he will work with India and Pakistan to seek a long-term resolution to the Kashmir dispute following the recent ceasefire between the two nuclear-armed neighbors after a deadly five-day military escalation. "Additionally, I will work with you both to see if, after a 'thousand years,' a solution can be arrived at concerning Kashmir," Trump posted on social media, referencing the long-running nature of the conflict. The ceasefire was agreed on Saturday after both countries exchanged missile and weapons fire in their most serious confrontation in years. Trump praised the leadership in both capitals for choosing de-escalation. "I am very proud of the strong and unwaveringly powerful leadership of India and Pakistan for having the strength, wisdom, and fortitude to fully know and understand that it was time to stop the current aggression that could have lead to the death and destruction of so many, and so much," he said, noting that millions of "good and innocent" lives could have been lost. Trump added that the United States will "substantially" increase trade with both India and Pakistan as part of efforts to stabilize the region and encourage economic cooperation. "Your legacy is greatly enhanced by your brave actions. I am proud that the USA was able to help you arrive at this historic and heroic decision," he wrote. "God Bless the leadership of India and Pakistan on a job well done." The conflict escalated after an attack in Indian-administered Kashmir killed 26 people, prompting Indian military strikes on what it called "terrorist targets" inside Pakistan. Islamabad responded with a large-scale operation on Saturday morning. At least 33 people were killed and 62 injured in Pakistan as a result of Indian military strikes and cross-border shelling along the Line of Control, the de facto border dividing Kashmir. Another 21 people were killed in Indian-administered Kashmir during the hostilities. — Agencies
