Trump Proposes Mediation Amid India-Pakistan Clash Over Operation Sindoor

US President Donald Trump has offered to mediate between India and Pakistan as tensions soar following India’s “Operation Sindoor,” a military strike targeting terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). The operation, launched early Wednesday in response to a deadly terror attack in Pahalgam on April 22 that killed 26 people, involved precision strikes on nine terror sites, including Muridke and Bahawalpur. Trump, emphasizing the need for de-escalation, said, “I want to see it stop. And if I can do anything to help, I will be there,” highlighting the US’s good relations with both nations.

Pakistan’s military reported 31 deaths and 57 injuries from Indian missile strikes in Punjab province and PoK, with Lt Gen Ahmad Sharif Chaudhry confirming the toll. Pakistan briefly closed its airspace, redirecting flights to Karachi, and its top security body authorized a retaliatory response “at a time, place, and manner of its choosing,” signaling potential escalation. India’s National Security Advisor Ajit Doval briefed US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, assuring global counterparts that the strikes were measured but affirming India’s readiness to counter any Pakistani retaliation.

International reactions vary, with the UAE and Israel backing India’s self-defense, while Turkey and Azerbaijan support Pakistan. Qatar and the EU, through diplomat Kaja Kallas, urged restraint, while Russia and China called for peace. India’s foreign secretary, Vikram Misri, defended the strikes, accusing Pakistan of failing to curb terrorism, and India’s fact-check unit debunked 18 false social media claims, including an alleged downed Indian jet. Trump’s mediation offer underscores the global push for de-escalation as the region remains on edge.