WASHINGTON: U.S. President Donald Trump has expressed concern over India’s recent missile strikes on Pakistan, labeling the military action as “a shame” and urging for a swift resolution to the escalating conflict between the two nuclear-armed nations.

India initiated a series of missile strikes following an incident on April 22, where 26 individuals were killed in Indian-occupied Kashmir. New Delhi has attributed the attack to Pakistani influences, a claim that Islamabad firmly denies. President Trump addressed the situation during a White House event, emphasizing the prolonged nature of the hostilities between India and Pakistan and expressing his hope for a quick end to the current tensions.

During the swearing-in ceremony for Steve Witkoff, the U.S. special envoy to the Middle East, Trump stated, “It’s a shame. We just heard about it as we were walking through the doors of the Oval.” He highlighted the enduring conflict, stating, “They’ve been fighting for a long time … I just hope it ends very quickly.”

In response to the strikes, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif issued a statement asserting the country’s right to defend itself. He declared, “Pakistan has every right to give a robust response to this act of war imposed by India, and a strong response is indeed being given.” Sharif emphasized the readiness of both the Pakistani nation and its armed forces to counteract any threats from India.

At the United Nations Headquarters in New York, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed his concerns through Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric. The UN chief urged both countries to exercise “maximum military restraint” and highlighted the global implications of a military confrontation between India and Pakistan.

“The world cannot afford a military confrontation between India and Pakistan,” Guterres stressed, as the international community closely monitors the situation in South Asia.