Trump Says India and Pakistan Have 'Gone Tit-For-Tat'

New Delhi: US president Donald Trump has said that India and Pakistan have "gone tit-for-tat" and expressed hope that escalations "can stop now."

Trump was speaking in the context of India's missile strikes on nine Pakistani targets early on May 7, in retaliation for a terror attack in Kashmir two weeks ago that killed 26 civilians. There are reports of over 10 civilian deaths in cross-border shelling by Pakistan all through May 7.

At the White House on the same day, Trump said, "They've gone tit-for-tat, so hopefully they can stop now."

It is unclear whether with the use of the term "tit-for-tat", Trump was in fact confirming a Pakistan role in the April 22 terror attack – something that India has alleged.

Trump could also be referring to something that  CNN has reported on – Pakistan downing an Indian Rafale fighter aircraft – although India has not commented on this.

Trump also said that he knew both sides "very well" and wanted "to see them work it out."

He also said, "And if I can do anything to help, I will be there."

Trump was the first foreign leader to react to the escalation and had earlier called it “a shame”.