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 5:07 AM GMT
Assam: More arrests for alleged anti-Pakistan stance
One more person was apprehended in Assam for his alleged pro-Pakistan stand in the wake of the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir, taking the total number of such arrests in the state to nine, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on Saturday.
He said the latest arrest was made in the Sribhumi district on Friday night.
Sarma, in a post on X, said the accused had posted 'Pakistan Zindabad' on Facebook.
Two persons, including opposition AIUDF MLA Aminul Islam, were apprehended on Thursday, while six more arrests across the state were made on Friday, Sarma had said.
"Assam will not tolerate any individual who, directly or indirectly, supports or defends Pakistan in connection with the heinous attack in Pahalgam," he said in a post on social media on Friday.
Of the persons arrested earlier, two are from Silchar in Cachar district and one each from Hailakandi, Morigaon, Nagaon, Sivasagar, Barpeta and Biswanath, he added.
- 26 April 2025 3:37 AM GMT
Clear security failure, says YS Sharmila
Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) president YS Sharmila has alleged that the Pahalgam terror attack is a result of "negligence and security failure", which the "BJP is deviating".
Taking out a candle light rally in solidarity with the 26 people who were gunned down by terrorists, she accused the RSS of allegedly creating the impression that a religion is being attacked.
"This is an attack on our country…and there is negligence and security failure behind it. The BJP is diverting this matter," Sharmila in a release on Friday, adding that "Muslims were also there among the deceased victims".
According to the Congress leader, this is not an attack on a religion but against India. She noted that the BJP is "building a narrative that this attack is against a religion" and called it sad.
Meanwhile, BJP leader S Yamini Sharma criticised Sharmila for her comments and told her to "control her tongue".
Throwing a challenge to Sharmila, Sharma dared her to debate with her about how "safe" the country is under the BJP government, compared to the erstwhile Congress government.
- 26 April 2025 2:50 AM GMT
Let India and Pakistan figure it out, says Trump
US President Donald Trump on Friday said there has always been tensions between India and Pakistan and the two countries will figure it out between themselves “one way or the other”.
“I am very close to India and I'm very close to Pakistan, as you know. And they've had that fight for 1,000 years in Kashmir. Kashmir has been going on for 1,000 years, probably longer than that. And it was a bad one yesterday, though, that was a bad one. Over 30 people,” Trump said during a press gaggle with reporters aboard Air Force One on the way to Rome.
The US President was asked about tensions between India and Pakistan in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack in which 26 civilians were killed and if he would be talking to the leaders of the two nations.
There have been “tensions on that border for 1,500 years. So you know, the same as it's been, but they'll 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.
