United States President Donald Trump has said that his country will comment on last week’s suicide bombing in Pulwama — that killed more than 40 Indian troops — at “an appropriate time”.
Trump, while answering a question from the media regarding the attack, said: “I have watched; I have got a lot of reports on it. We will have comment [on it] at an appropriate time. It would be wonderful if they [Pakistan and India] get along.”
He called the attack “a horrible situation”. Trump’s comments came during an Oval Office signing ceremony on Tuesday.
Shortly after the Pulwama attack, the US had singled out Pakistan in its statement condemning the incident.
“The United States calls on Pakistan to end immediately the support and safe haven provided to all terrorist groups operating on its soil, whose only goal is to sow chaos, violence, and terror in the region,” the statement from the White House press secretary’s office had said, adding that “the attack strengthened US resolve to bolster counterterrorism cooperation with India”.
Pakistan and India’s relations have been tense since the suicide bombing, with the latter blaming the former of being complicit in the attack — a charge Pakistan has continued to deny from the get-go.
On Tuesday, Prime Minister Imran Khan had said Islamabad would take action if Delhi shares any actionable evidence concerning last week’s suicide bombing.
While offering cooperation and another chance at a dialogue over the Kashmir issue, the premier also warned India against any act of aggression, saying Pakistan will not hesitate in retaliating to a provocation.
India, however, responded to Prime Minister Khan’s offer with further vitriol, describing the premier’s statement that Pakistan itself has been the biggest victim of terrorism as “far from the truth”.
“We are not surprised that the prime minister of Pakistan refuses to acknowledge the attack on our security forces in Pulwama as an act of terrorism. Prime minister of Pakistan has neither chosen to condemn this heinous act nor condoled with the bereaved families,” India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) complained.
It is pertinent to mention that the Foreign Office had immediatelytermed the attack a matter of grave concern.
According to media reports, Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) — which is banned in Pakistan and listed as a terrorist organisation — has claimed responsibility for the attack.
