Trump Claims He Can ‘Quickly Resolve’ Pakistan-Afghanistan Conflict

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump said on Sunday that he could quickly resolve the ongoing conflict between Pakistan and Afghanistan, praising Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir as “great people.”

Trump made the remarks during the signing ceremony of a Thailand-Cambodia peace deal on the sidelines of the ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur.

The Pakistan-Afghanistan border has remained closed since October 11, following clashes that killed dozens on both sides. The clashes began after Pakistan demanded that Afghanistan control militants who launch attacks across the border from Afghan territory. A ceasefire was agreed upon last weekend during talks hosted by Qatar and Turkiye, and it is currently holding.

During ongoing negotiations in Istanbul, Pakistan handed over a detailed counterterrorism plan to the Afghan Taliban, according to sources.

Trump expressed confidence that he could help both sides reach peace, saying, “I know them both. And the Field Marshal, and the Prime Minister are great people, and I have no doubt we’re going to get that done quickly.”

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He added that peacebuilding is a priority for him, noting, “If I can take time and save millions of lives, that’s really a great thing.” Trump emphasized that unlike other presidents, he focuses on ending wars rather than starting them.

Meanwhile, Trump also witnessed the signing of an enhanced ceasefire deal between Thailand and Cambodia. His intervention in their border conflict, which involved five days of heavy fighting and displaced around 300,000 people, earned him a Nobel Peace Prize nomination. The new agreement builds on a previous truce signed three months ago after Trump called the leaders of both countries to urge an end to hostilities.

The US president’s statements signal his continued interest in international peace efforts and his confidence in facilitating a resolution between Pakistan and Afghanistan.