U.S. President Donald Trump suggested he’s willing to step in to resolve days of deadly cross-border fighting between Pakistan and Afghanistan, saying he is “good at solving wars.”
Trump made the remarks while on his way to Egypt to co-chair an international peace summit on Gaza. Also expected to be in attendance is Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and army chief Asim Munir. Pakistani media said a meeting between the Pakistani leaders and Trump during the gathering was likely.
“I hear there’s a war now going between Pakistan and Afghanistan. I said, I’ll have to wait until I get back,” the U.S. president said while speaking to the press on Air Force One on Sunday.
Leaders from more than 20 countries are expected to attend the peace summit, co-chaired with Trump by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi. Also expected from Pakistan are Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar.
Trump’s comments came after days of fighting along the Pakistan- Afghanistan border. The Pakistani military has said 23 of its soldiers were killed by Afghan forces, and another 29 were injured. The Associated Press, citing an Afghan spokesman, reported 58 Pakistani soldiers were killed during overnight border operations.
Pakistan also said “credible intelligence estimates and damage assessment” showed its military killed more than 200 members of the Afghan Taliban regime and militants.
The clashes come days after Kabul accused Islamabad of carrying out air strikes inside Afghan territory — an allegation Pakistan has yet to officially address.
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