Pahalgam Live: India, Pak fighting over Kashmir for 1,000 years, will figure it out: Trump
Pak Army chief evokes two-nation theory, says Muslims are distinct from Hindus in all aspects of life — religion, customs, traditions, thinking and aspirations
The US President Donald Trump has said there have been “tensions on [the Kashmir] border for 1,500 years” and that India and Pakistan will “get it figured out one way or the other”.
“I’m sure… I know both leaders. There is great tension between Pakistan and India. But there always has been,” he said on Saturday.
Meanwhile, blowing hot and cold over the Pahalgam terrorist attack that killed 26 people on April 22, Pakistan has now offered to join any “neutral and transparent” probe into the massacre.
“The recent tragedy in Pahalgam is yet another example of this perpetual blame game, which must come to a grinding halt. Continuing with its role as a responsible country, Pakistan is open to participating in any neutral, transparent and credible investigation,” Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said at an event on Saturday (April 26).
Sharif threatens to ‘use all options’
Talking about the suspension of the Indus Water Treaty by India, Sharif said any attempt to stop, reduce, or divert the flow of water belonging to Pakistan would be responded to with full force and might.
Sharif threatened to use all options if the water of its share was stopped by India. “Water is our lifeline and a vital national interest, and its availability will be safeguarded at all costs and under all circumstances,” he said.
He said the entire nation stood by the armed forces of Pakistan to safeguard every inch of the homeland. “Our valiant armed forces are capable and remain fully prepared to defend the country’s sovereignty and its territorial integrity against any misadventure,” he said.
Firing along LOC
On the other hand, Pakistan army chief General Asim Munir on Saturday highlighted the “two-nation theory”, stating that Muslims and Hindus are two different nations.
“The two-nation theory was based on the fundamental belief that Muslims and Hindus are two separate nations, not one. Muslims are distinct from Hindus in all aspects of life – religion, customs, traditions, thinking and aspirations,” Munir said.
Earlier in the day, the Pakistani military resorted to unprovoked firing all across the Line of Control and Indian troops effectively responded to them, military sources said.
The exchange of fire for a second consecutive night came amid heightened tension between India and Pakistan following the Pahalgam terror attack.
Follow more live updates below:
Live Updates
- 26 April 2025 2:45 PM GMT
14 detained over 'seditious comments' in Assam: CM Himanta Biswa Sarma
At least 14 people have been arrested in Assam so far for making ‘seditious comments’ in the wake of the Pahalgam attack, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on Saturday.
He warned that if required, these people would be booked under the National Security Act (NSA).
"There are no similarities between Bharat and Pakistan. The two countries are enemy nations and we must remain like that," Sarma told reporters on the sidelines of a programme at the state BJP office here.
He said a leader of Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti was apprehended on Friday for his ‘anti-India comment' and warned that anyone who takes such a stance will be arrested.
"If required, we will impose provisions of NSA on them. We are examining all (social media) posts, and action will be taken against those who, we feel, are anti-national," the chief minister asserted.
In a post on X, he said the number of arrested persons for making ‘pro-Pakistan’ comments has increased to 14.
"Total 14 arrests made till now against people who have made seditious comments," he said, sharing the update on ‘crackdown against traitors’ till 7 pm on Saturday.
At least six arrests were reported during the day, including two in Cachar and one each in Hailakandi, Nagaon and Sribhumi.
- 26 April 2025 1:30 PM GMT
Nadda visits Pahalgam victim's family in Pune
BJP president J P Nadda visits family of Santosh Jagdale who was killed in Pahalgam terror attack at their Pune home
- 26 April 2025 12:58 PM GMT
Kharge slams Modi over skipping all party meeting on Pahalgam attack
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Saturday flayed Prime Minister Narendra Modi for not attending the all-party meeting on the Pahalgam terror attack and claimed that the government had admitted to security lapses in the meeting held in Delhi.
With regard to the suspension of the 1960 Indus Water Treaty with Pakistan, he asked the government where it would store the water and maintained that these issues would be raised later and not now.
Kharge said leaders from all political parties were present, including him and the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, at the all-party meeting.
"The first question I raised in the meeting was that when the government convenes a meeting, the prime minister should have been present. Since he was not present, we said it was not right," he told reporters here.
The Congress president said the prime minister’s attitude towards the all-party meeting was not proper when at least 26 people lost their lives and many others sustained injuries.
He also hit out at PM Modi for addressing an election rally in poll-bound Bihar rather than attending the all-party meeting.
"You go to deliver your election speech in Bihar. If he (Modi) is not attending the meeting then it means that he is not serious about it," Kharge said
