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‘If I can help, I will be there': Trump urges India and Pakistan to de-escalate
Trump said the US maintains friendly ties with both India and Pakistan and wants the tensions to come to an end, adding, 'If I can do anything to help, I will be there.' read more
US President Donald Trump on Wednesday called for India and Pakistan to halt their fighting and offered to help as the world saw the worst violence between the nuclear-armed countries in two decades.
'I want to see them stop,' AFP quoted Trump as saying at the White House.
He said the US has friendly relations with both countries and wants the tensions to be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy.
'And if I can do anything to help, I will be there,' he added.
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Trump's remarks came shortly after Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif vowed to strike back after India's attack on nine terror hideouts in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
'We resolve that we will avenge the blood of our innocent martyrs,' Aljazeera quoted Sharif as saying in address to the nation.
Pakistani prime minister also praised his country's air force following a claim that it downed 5 Indian jets.
'Last night, we showed that Pakistan can deliver a jaw-breaking response for its defence. At the Line of Control, the dogfight raged for about an hour. Pakistani pilots remained in their airspace, the enemy's planes were shattered to pieces,' he claimed, adding, 'In conventional warfare last night, we proved that Pakistan prevailed.'
Meanwhile, India has warned Pakistan to 'behave or get punished' if it chooses to retaliate.
According to a News18 report, citing top government sources, India has identified additional 'terror hubs' and is prepared to deliver a 'befitting reply' if Pakistan escalates.'India is not scared to continue its fight against terror. India is willing to teach Pakistan a lesson yet again,' News 18 quoted the sources as saying.
'Behave well or get punished,' they added.
In direct message to Pakistan, the sources said there will be no leniency on the non-military front.
With inputs from agencies
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