Washington, May 07 (V7N) – U.S. President Donald Trump has sharply criticized India’s missile strikes on multiple locations in Pakistan, calling the attacks “shameful” and expressing hope for swift de-escalation between the two nuclear-armed neighbors.

Speaking to reporters shortly after news of the strikes broke on Wednesday (May 7), Trump said,

“It’s a shame. We just heard about it. People knew something might happen, given the long-standing conflict between India and Pakistan. They’ve been fighting for decades—some say even centuries. But I hope it will end very soon.”

His remarks came amid growing international concern over the escalating military confrontation in South Asia.

According to Pakistan's Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), India launched missile strikes on Kotli, Bahawalpur, Muridke, Bagh, and Muzaffarabad late Wednesday night. At least eight people were killed and 35 injured, with the casualty count expected to rise as damage assessments continue.

ISPR Director General Lt. Gen. Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry described the Indian strikes as “cowardly”, adding that one missile hit a mosque in Kotli, while another landed on a road in Muzaffarabad, though no casualties were reported at the latter site. He confirmed that Pakistan’s military is responding both by land and air.

Meanwhile, India’s armed forces confirmed the launch of ‘Operation Sindoor’, under which nine installations in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK) were targeted. A statement from the Indian military emphasized that the strikes were aimed at terrorist infrastructure, not military personnel.

The Indian response comes in the wake of a deadly gun attack on April 22 in Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir, which claimed 26 Indian lives. India has blamed Pakistan-based militants for the attack — a claim Islamabad has repeatedly denied.

As tensions escalate, global observers are urging both countries to exercise maximum restraint. With statements now coming from influential figures like Donald Trump, the international spotlight is increasingly focused on preventing further deterioration of peace in the region.

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