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U.S. President Donald Trump has expressed concern over escalating hostilities between India and Pakistan and offered his help to end the crisis between the nuclear powers. Concerns about the potential for a nuclear exchange have intensified following the most serious cross-border violence in years. India launched 'Operation Sindoor', striking alleged militant sites in Pakistan-controlled territory, after the deadly Pahalgam attack in Kashmir which killed Indian tourists.
Following the strikes, Trump said the two sides had been fighting for a long time, referring to the ongoing the situation as a "shame." "I want to see it stop. And if I can do anything to help, I will be there," he told reporters at the White House.
U.S. Issues Pakistan Travel Warning After India Drone Attack The U.S. State Department issued a new travel warning for Pakistan after an Indian drone was reported to have struck a target in Lahore. It warned U.S. citizens to leave areas of active conflict if it is safe or to shelter-in-place. India stated that it had struck Pakistani air defense and radar systems in response to attempted attacks on its military installations.
Pakistan claimed to have shot down Indian drones in multiple areas, though one had hit a military facility near Lahore and wounded four soldiers. The U.S. Embassy and Consulates in Pakistan gave a list of actions for U.S. citizens to take: Seek secure shelter; Have evacuation plans that do not rely on U.S. government assistance; Have travel documents up-to-date and easily accessible; Monitor local media for updates; Carry proper identification and cooperate with authorities. Pakistan: Due to reports of drone explosions, downed drones, and possible airspace incursions in and near Lahore, the U.S. Consulate General in Lahore has directed all consulate personnel to shelter-in-place.
The Consulate has also received initial reports that authorities may… pic.twitter.com/mCgCpZ47dF — Travel – State Dept (@TravelGov) May 8, 2025 Journalists look at wreckage of missiles at the Government Health and Educational complex in Muridke about 30 kilometres from Lahore, on May 7, 2025, after Indian strikes. Journalists look at wreckage of missiles at the Government Health and Educational complex in Muridke about 30 kilometres from Lahore, on May 7, 2025, after Indian strikes. FAROOQ NAEEM/AFP/Getty Images Pakistan Authorizes Military Response to India Pakistan's National Security Council announced it had authorized the armed forces "to avenge" recent Indian strikes, calling them "acts of war under international law."
The strikes, according to Pakistan, killed and injured civilians, including a woman and child at a mosque. Citing Article 51 of the UN Charter, Pakistan said it reserves the right to respond in self-defense. It has already carried out shelling into Indian-administered Kashmir, which India said resulted in civilian deaths.
Pakistan also claimed to have downed multiple Indian military jets. Pakistan Says 'Serious Provocation' Pakistan accused India of a "serious provocation" after a drone strike near Lahore, which the military said injured four soldiers, killed a civilian and injured another. Twelve drones were shot down, the Pakistani military said.
The attack came as India accused Pakistan of targeting its military sites using drones and missiles. The government said strikes focused on Pakistani air defense systems, not broader military targets, claiming it had "neutralized" a radar site near Lahore, reaffirming a commitment to avoid escalation—if matched by Pakistan. Nuclear Capabilities of India and Pakistan India has about 172 nuclear warheads, while Pakistan possesses roughly 170, according to the Arms Control Association.
India holds a tactical edge with its long-range Agni-V missile, capable of striking targets up to 8,000 kilometers away, while Pakistan relies on shorter-range systems like the Nasr, a 70-kilometer tactical nuclear missile designed for battlefield use. India, traditionally committed to a No First Use nuclear policy, has recently hinted at a possible shift, while Pakistan, with no such restriction, continues to reserve the right to strike first. It has said it could use nuclear weapons if its existence is threatened.
