United States President Donald Trump stirred controversy by inaccurately claiming that Pakistan and India have been "fighting over Kashmir for 1,000 years," while commenting on the recent escalation between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.
Speaking to journalists aboard Air Force One, Trump said, "The Kashmir issue has been going on for a thousand years, maybe even longer, and this is a bad situation." Despite the historical inaccuracy — as the Kashmir dispute emerged from the 1947 partition of the Indian subcontinent — no journalist present corrected the statement.
When asked about the heightened tensions along the border, Trump remarked that there had been unrest for "1,500 years" but expressed confidence that India and Pakistan would eventually resolve their differences. He noted his familiarity with the leaders of both nations but did not confirm any plans to intervene directly.
Tensions between Pakistan and India have surged following a deadly gun attack in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir’s (IIOJK) Pahalgam area, which killed at least 27 tourists. In response, New Delhi suspended a key water-sharing treaty, downgraded diplomatic ties, cancelled visas for Pakistani citizens, and closed the main land border crossing.
Islamabad retaliated by expelling Indian diplomats and military advisers, cancelling Indian visas — except for Sikh pilgrims — and shutting the border crossing from its side. Pakistan also warned that any attempt by India to cut off the Indus River water supply would be considered an "act of war."
The United Nations has called for "maximum restraint" from both countries as tensions continue to escalate.
Kashmir has remained a disputed region since the 1947 partition, with India yet to fulfil its promise of holding a UN-mandated plebiscite. Since 1989, various rebel groups have led an armed insurgency in IIOJK, demanding independence.
