United States President Donald Trump stirred controversy by claiming Pakistan and India have been “fighting over Kashmir for 1,000 years.”
He made the inaccurate statement while speaking to journalists aboard Air Force One.
Tensions are already running high between the two nuclear-armed neighbors.
A deadly gun attack in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) region’s Pahalgam area left at least 27 tourists dead.
The incident pushed Pakistan-India relations to their lowest point in nearly two decades.
Trump, addressing the media, said, “The Kashmir issue has been going on for a thousand years, maybe even longer, and this is a bad situation.”
His historical error went uncorrected by the journalists accompanying him.
The Kashmir conflict, in reality, dates back to 1947.
It emerged after the wrongful partition of the Indian subcontinent, not a millennium ago.
Since then, Kashmir has remained a flashpoint between the two countries.
When asked if he was worried about rising tensions at the border, Trump added, “There has been tension there for 1,500 years, but they will figure it out.”
He emphasized that India and Pakistan would resolve the matter themselves.
However, he avoided answering whether he would personally contact the leaders.
Trump reiterated, “There’s great tension between Pakistan and India, but there always has been.”
Following the deadly shooting, diplomatic ties between the two nations sharply deteriorated.
New Delhi reacted by suspending a key water-sharing treaty.
It also closed the main land border with Pakistan, downgraded diplomatic relations, and revoked visas for Pakistani citizens.
Islamabad responded with strong measures of its own.
Pakistan expelled Indian diplomats and military advisers.
It cancelled visas for Indian nationals, except for Sikh pilgrims, and shut down the border crossing from its side.
Pakistan also warned that any move by India to block water from the Indus River would be considered an “act of war.”
The United Nations has urged both sides to exercise “maximum restraint.”
The UN stressed the need to avoid further escalation between the nuclear-armed rivals.
Kashmir remains divided between Pakistan and India since 1947.
Despite global pressure, India has not fulfilled its commitment to hold a UN-mandated plebiscite to determine Kashmir’s future.
Meanwhile, insurgent groups have been fighting in IIOJK since 1989.
Their demand remains simple: independence from Indian rule.
Trump’s remarks have drawn criticism for misrepresenting the history of the conflict.
Analysts warn that careless comments could inflame an already volatile situation.
As tensions rise and diplomatic channels tighten, the risk of conflict looms larger.
Global leaders continue to call for dialogue, urging Pakistan and India to seek peace.
The Kashmir issue remains one of the world’s most dangerous and unresolved disputes.
Both nations face mounting pressure to de-escalate and prioritize diplomacy over aggression.
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