U.S. President Donald Trump has voiced willingness to intervene diplomatically in the flare-up between Pakistan and Afghanistan, pledging to halt what he described as “another war” erupting between the two neighbours. Speaking aboard Air Force One en route to the Middle East, Trump told reporters, “This will be my eighth war that I’ve solved … and I hear there’s a war now going on between Pakistan and Afghanistan.” He added that he planned to wait until his return before launching mediation, framing the intervention as part of his portfolio of conflict resolution: “Because I am good at solving wars, I am good at making peace,” he said.
Trump’s pledge comes amid a weekend of sharp border violence in which both Afghan and Pakistani forces claim to have inflicted significant casualties. The escalation followed accusations from Afghanistan that Pakistan carried out airstrikes within Afghan territory, including a marketplace in Paktika province and near Kabul. In response, Afghan forces reportedly struck Pakistani positions along the frontier, further fueling the confrontation.
In response to the fighting, Pakistan shut down key border crossings including Torkham and Chaman, disrupting trade and movement between the countries. The border closure added to the humanitarian and economic strain already being felt along the contested frontier.
Analysts warn that unless diplomacy intervenes, the confrontation could spiral out of control, given both sides’ readiness to defend their sovereignty and assert military responses. International actors, including Qatar and Saudi Arabia, have reportedly urged restraint and mediation.
Trump’s declared intention to stop the conflict, however, is couched in his broader narrative of peacemaking, claiming past successes in ending protracted disputes. In the same remarks, he referenced recent efforts to bring about a ceasefire in Gaza as part of the “wars” he has helped resolve, and emphasized that his actions are about saving lives, not awards.
