Pakistan-Afghanistan Clashes Escalate, President Trump Calls Conflict "Easy to Solve"
Amid rising tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan, US President Donald Trump has publicly blamed Islamabad for attacking Afghanistan and expressed confidence that resolving the conflict would be easy under his leadership. The escalation comes after a recent ceasefire was broken, leading to deadly clashes along the border.
Trump’s Statement on the Conflict
On Friday, during a media interaction at a lunch with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President Trump stated, "I do understand Pakistan attacked, or there is an attack going on with Afghanistan, that’s an easy one for me to solve if I have to solve that." The Republican leader emphasized his preference for peace, saying, "I like stopping people from being killed," and highlighted his past achievements, claiming to have saved "millions and millions of lives."
He assured optimism regarding the conflict resolution by saying, "I think we are going to have success with this war," signaling his commitment to managing the tense situation.
Recent Military Clashes and Ceasefire Breakdown
The latest hostilities escalated when Pakistan launched air strikes on Kabul, reportedly killing at least 10 people. This marked a breakdown of a 48-hour truce that had temporarily paused nearly a week of intense border clashes. These clashes claimed dozens of lives, including both troops and civilians from Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Afghan officials accused Pakistan of breaking the ceasefire by bombing multiple targets in the Paktika province. A senior Taliban official warned that "Afghanistan will retaliate," fueling concerns over further escalation.
Diplomatic Efforts Amid Violence
Following the breakdown of the ceasefire, Pakistan announced that top officials, including Defence Minister Khawaja Asif and intelligence chief General Asim Malik, would hold talks with representatives of the Afghan Taliban in Doha, Qatar. This diplomatic engagement aimed at de-escalating the conflict comes a day after the deadly air strikes.
The Afghan Taliban confirmed that a high-level delegation led by Defense Minister Mohammed Yaqub also left for Doha to participate in the talks, signaling both sides' willingness to negotiate despite the ongoing conflict.
This blog covers the major developments regarding the Pakistan-Afghanistan clashes, President Trump's remarks and stance, the recent violence and ceasefire breakdown, and ongoing diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict. The situation remains tense with international attention on peace initiatives and conflict management.