As South Asian fears another Pakistan-India standoff over Pulwama attack, President Donald Trump has expressed the desire that the two countries should get along.
In first public reaction to the escalating regional situation, Trump said the U.S. will made a comment on the unfolding the situation at an appropriate time.
“I have watched; I have got a lot of reports on it. We will have comment (on it) at an appropriate time. It would be wonderful if they (Pakistan and India) get along,” Trump said in response to a question.
Trump termed the attack “a horrible situation.”
New Delhi has blamed Pakistan for the attack that killed 40 Indian security personnel in Jammu part of the disputed territory.
Pakistan has rejected the allegation and Prime Minister Imran Khan has offered to cooperate with New Delhi in a probe into Pulwama attack, which India says has been carried out by Jaish e Mohammad militant group.
The White House and State Department have, in their initial reaction, called upon Pakistan to end its support for terrorist groups and cooperate in investigating the Pulwama attack.
The U.S. and Pakistan are working closely toward achieving a political settlement to the 18-year-old Afghan conflict and there are fears that a spiraling of the South Asian tensions would hurt Afghan peace efforts.
But beyond Afghanistan, experts say the U.S. will continue to have strategic interests in its relations with Pakistan.
Meanwhile, the international community has expressed concern over the situation and asked Islamabad and New Delhi to hold dialogue on the contentious Kashmir dispute.
Beijing has emphasized restraint on part of Pakistan and India while European Union Parliamentarians have underscored the importance of dialogue on the Jammu and Kashmir dispute.
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