Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Newsroom

India Strikes Pakistan In Major Escalation Over Kashmir Violence; Step-By-Step Look At How The Conclave Will Work; India Strikes Pakistan in Major Escalation Over Kashmir Violence; Carney Tells Trump Canada Won't Ever Be for Sale; Ukrainian Drones Attack Moscow for Third Straight Day; China's Xi to Visit Moscow for Victory Day Celebrations; U.S. And Chinese Officials to Meet in Geneva This Week; Port Cities Already Feeling Effects of Trade Wars; 133 Cardinals Prepare to Choose a New Pope. Aired 2-3a ET

Aired May 07, 2025 - 02:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[02:00:31]

ROSEMARY CHURCH, CNN ANCHOR: Hello and welcome to our viewers joining us from all around the world, and to everyone streaming us on CNN Max. I'm Rosemary Church.

Just ahead, a major escalation between two nuclear rivals, India launches deadly air strikes on Pakistan, and Pakistan is vowing to respond.

We are just hours away from the papal conclave. Will a successor to Pope Francis follow his path or forge a new one?

And as Israel attacks Yemen's main airport and power plants, President Donald Trump says the U.S. will stop strikes on Houthis in Yemen.

ANNOUNCER: Live from Atlanta. This is CNN NEWSROOM with Rosemary Church.

CHURCH: Good to have you with us. Well, there are growing fears that two nuclear armed rivals are moving closer to war after India launched military strikes against Pakistan.

India claims to have targeted terrorist infrastructure in several locations inside Pakistan and Pakistan administered Kashmir. India insists its missile strikes were, "Focused and precise and designed to be non-escalatory in nature." But Pakistan rejects that claim.

Meanwhile, there is a jump in the death toll. A Pakistani military spokesperson tells Reuters at least 26 civilians were killed and 46 injured. Pakistan also claims to have shot down five of India's top of the line fighter jets, three of which are French made. CNN cannot independently confirm those claims.

But pictures taken of parts of an aircraft that crashed in Indian administered Kashmir show the label of a French manufacturer. Experts say it was not possible to say whether the part came from an Indian aircraft.

And the Pakistan Air Force also has French made jets. These new strikes come after two weeks after gunmen massacred 26 tourists in India administered Kashmir. India quickly accused Pakistan of supporting terrorists in the region. Pakistan denied any responsibility.

The two sides have also been exchanging shelling and gunfire across their disputed border. And this is the first time since 2019 that India has struck inside Pakistani territory. The attacks in Punjab province are the deepest since the 1971 war.

And I do want to bring in CNN's Kristie Lu Stout now, she joins us live from Hong Kong. So Kristie, what is the latest on these developments, and of course, concerns about this major escalation?

KRISTIE LU STOUT, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Rosemary, this marks a major, if not massive, escalation. And according to Pakistan's military as cited by Reuters, the death toll is rising.

Now, this is what we know. India has launched military action against Pakistan, taking place two weeks after that tourist massacre in Indian administered Kashmir, a massacre that India blames on Pakistan, and Pakistan denies. These Indian launched military strikes that took place earlier today, on Wednesday, according to the Indian Defense Ministry, said that they were targeting, "Terrorist infrastructure, both inside Pakistan proper, as well as in Pakistan administered Kashmir."

We do have a statement to describe the shape of this military action from the Indian Defense Ministry. They said this, "Our actions have been focused, measured, non-escalatory in nature. No Pakistani military facilities have been targeted. India has demonstrated considerable restraint in selection of targets and method of execution."

India says nine sites were targeted. And I want to show you this social media video that has been going viral that shows the moment of impact for one of those strikes.

Again, this is significant. This is the first time India has conducted air strikes inside Pakistan since 2019, multiple locations were targeted. Multiple sites were hit, including a religious school.

And in this next social media video, you will see the aftermath of a strike on a religious school in Muridke, Pakistan, that's near Lahore. And as you can see there on your screen, the school is in flames.

Now, Reuters citing Pakistan's military spokesperson, says the death toll is now 26, dozens of people have been injured among the dead, women and children. We have seen footage of multiple victims being carried to the hospital, and we also heard earlier from Pakistan's military spokesperson calling all this a, "Blatant act of war." Listen to this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) [02:05:24]

LT. GEN. AHMED SHARIF CHAUDHRY, PAKISTANI MILITARY SPOKESPERSON: We strongly condemn this COVID reaction of India, which is in any form a flagrant violation of the United Nation charter, international law and all established norms of interstate relations. The Indian leadership has once again used the body of terrorism to advance its shame narrative of victimhood. We have jeopardized the regional peace and security, and I must say that India's reckless action has brought the two nuclear armed states closer to a major conflict.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

STOUT: The Pakistan military adds it has shot down at least five Indian fighter jets. India's military says that there has been cross border shelling by Pakistan, which has resulted in the deaths of three civilians in Indian administered Kashmir.

All of this, Rosemary, raising concerns that this could spiral out of control and escalate into an all-out confrontation and conflict between these two nuclear powers. Back to you.

CHURCH: And Kristie, how is China responding at this time?

STOUT: That's right. In the last few hours, we've been discussing international reaction as it's been coming in from the United Nations, the U.S. and elsewhere.

China, this day, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs did release a statement expressing concern and also calling for restraint. This is what the statement said. Said this, "India and Pakistan are neighbors. They cannot be moved away, and they are both China's neighbors as well. China opposes all forms of terrorism. We call on both India and Pakistan to prioritize the overall situation of peace and stability."

It was just one week ago when the Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with Pakistan's Foreign Minister, and he called for restraint amid escalating tension. We know that China has grown closer to Pakistan in recent years, especially given those increasing One Belt, One Road investments in the country.

China has had a more fractious relationship with India. There have been skirmishes and clashes at their contested border, but this latest flare up it does -- it does come at a time as China has been trying to improve its relationship with India, Rosemary.

CHURCH: All right, Kristie Lu Stout joining us live from Hong Kong. Many thanks for that report.

STOUT: Thank you.

CHURCH: Want to go to London now and terrorism expert Sajjan Gohel is the International Security Director of the Asia-Pacific Foundation, and joins us now. Appreciate you being with us.

SAJJAN GOHEL, INTERNATIONAL SECURITY DIRECTOR, ASIA-PACIFIC FOUNDATION: Good to be with you.

CHURCH: So, India has struck targets in Pakistan in response to a recent terror attack in Kashmir, and now Pakistan is vowing to retaliate, calling this a blatant act of war, and claiming it has shot down five Indian planes.

Now, how much closer does this bring the two nuclear armed rivals to all-out war?

GOHEL: Well, it's a very important question, Rosemary. If we look at the military strike by India, they use what's called standoff weapons. So, that means that they were conducting strikes on Pakistani targets from a distance, outside the range of Pakistan's air defense system.

So, it probably means that they were opting for escalation control, they were going for a political and strategic messaging, and they were avoiding close combat engagement, so they didn't actually enter Pakistani space.

Now, the question is that, is there an off ramp? Will Pakistan pursue it? They are under huge pressure because these were coordinated multiple air strikes. They've hit several locations, and the military in Pakistan acts as the guardians of the country. They've built that as their reputation, their reputation took a major hit last night, so there will be pressure for them to respond.

But equally, countries like the U.S. and China will not want Pakistan to escalate matters.

CHURCH: Well, let's look at that, because the world is responding with the United Nations calling for restraint, along with the United States, China and other nations. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, we understand, has been talking with the security advisors of both India and Pakistan.

So, what more does the U.S. specifically need to be doing to help find that off ramp you refer to, to try to avert all-out war?

GOHEL: Well, the U.S. is critical to Pakistan's economic stability. The various IMF loans that Pakistan is very much dependent on are contingent on the United States sanctioning them. So, that is going to be a financial aspect that could implicate what Pakistan ends up doing.

I thought what was very interesting, Rosemary, was also when your Correspondent Kristie was reading out the statement from the Chinese government. It was surprisingly neutral, because in the past, China has been very clear in taking Pakistan's side. Call themselves the iron brothers, all weather friendship.

[02:10:16]

But this time it seemed that China was staying very much in the middle, which means they do not want the situation to spiral, and it's going to be important for other countries, like the UAE and Saudi Arabia that also have huge economic leverage on Pakistan, to try and prevent this from escalating.

CHURCH: And I want to follow up on that point regarding China. I mean, what more could Beijing be doing at this time to help deescalate tensions? And what are some other possible solutions to take the heat out of all of this?

GOHEL: Well, one of the biggest problems Rosemary, the reason why we're talking about this is the fact that there is terrorist infrastructure inside Pakistan. Now, Pakistan says that they were not responsible for that terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir that triggered all of these events.

But the problem is that there are these very murky ties between terrorist groups in Pakistan, the military of the country, and in the past, Pakistan has enabled this infrastructure to operate which carries out cross border attacks.

So, China has been aware of this. They have quietly tried to talk to Pakistan to not pursue this tool, because it also impacts on Pakistan as well, very negatively.

And I think it's important that China seems to be playing the role of a responsible world leader right now. And keep in mind that China has had a standoff with India itself back in 2020, in the Himalayas, although they (ph) seem to have thought recently, I think China will also be watching how India carried out these strikes, because if, in the future, there are tensions between India and China, we may be getting a glimpse of what that could look like.

CHURCH: Sajjan Gohel, thank you so much for joining us. Appreciate it.

GOHEL: My pleasure.

CHURCH: And as we just touched on, leaders around the world are urging India and Pakistan to deescalate before this crisis reaches a tipping point. China, which also administers part of Kashmir, says it's concerned by the situation.

The UAE is asking India and Pakistan to exercise restraint and to avoid threatening regional and international peace.

U.S. President Donald Trump and a top Japanese official are also speaking out.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Now, it's a shame we just heard about it just as we were walking in the doors of the Oval. Just heard about it. I guess people knew something was going to happen based on a little bit of the past. They've been fighting for a long time. You know, they've been fighting for many, many decades and centuries, actually, if you really think about it. No, I just hope it ends very quickly.

YOSHIMASA HAYASHI, JAPANESE CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY (through translator): We are deeply concerned that this incident could incite retaliation and escalate to a full scale military conflict. To ensure peace in South Asia, we strongly call for both India and Pakistan to exercise restraint and stabilize the situation through dialog.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: The Israeli military reports multiple air strikes have fully disabled the airport in Yemen's capital Sanaa. The IDF says fighter jets struck and dismantled Houthi terrorist infrastructure. Several major power stations were also hit, as well as a cement factory.

The Houthi run health ministry reports at least one person was killed and three others injured in the attacks.

On Sunday, a ballistic missile launched by the Houthis penetrated Israeli air defenses and landed near Ben Gurion International Airport. Israel's military issued a rare evacuation order for Yemen's airport before Tuesday's strike.

Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump has announced a cease fire with Houthi rebels.

Another horrific scene unfolding in Gaza, where hospital officials report at least 22 people are dead, including seven children. Dozens more were injured in an Israeli strike on a school compound sheltering thousands of displaced people.

Israel says it struck terrorists operating a Hamas command and control center. The Israeli security cabinet on Sunday approved an expanded military operation in Gaza. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Palestinians in Gaza will be relocated to the southern part of the territory.

Well, the start of the Conclave to elect a new pope is just a couple of hours away. Coming up, a step by step look at how the secret of voting process will work. Back with that and more in a moment.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[02:19:20]

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

AHMED ABBASI, RESIDENT (through translator): Suddenly, shelling started. I think 10 to 15 missiles hit here. We had a big mosque here where our elders, young children and students used to come here to pray and study in the madrasa. It has been destroyed in front of you.

In the night, the entire neighborhood was in fear and panic, and the entire population fled from here and there.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: That fear and chaos comes after India's military launched strikes deep inside Pakistan and Pakistan administered Kashmir.

India claims it targeted, "Terrorist infrastructure," but according to Reuters, a Pakistani military spokesperson says at least 26 civilians were killed and 46 injured in the strikes.

[02:20:03]

India's military strikes come after 26 tourists in Indian administered Kashmir were killed in a terror attack.

Now to our other top story. We are less than two hours away from the start of the Conclave that we'll choose a new pope to lead the Roman Catholic Church.

And these are live pictures from Vatican City, where 133 Cardinals will decide who will succeed Pope Francis to become the next leader of almost 1.5 billion Catholics around the world.

The Cardinals will be sealed off from the outside world as they wrestle with the crucial task inside the Sistine Chapel.

And CNN Boris Sanchez gives us a step by step look at how the conclave's voting process will work.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BORIS SANCHEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The secretive process for voting for a new pope, all happens here inside the Sistine Chapel. After the death of Pope Francis, the Catholic Church must choose a new pope in a process called a conclave.

On Wednesday, the Conclave begins with a mass for the Cardinals in St. Peter's Basilica, and after the mass, the Cardinals will gather in the Paolina Chapel. Then the voting members of the College of Cardinals, those under the age of 80, will enter the famous Sistine Chapel. The lowest ranking Cardinal, first, the highest ranking Cardinal, last.

Inside, each cardinal takes the Conclave oath, part of a vow of secrecy under penalty of excommunication. The Sistine Chapel is then placed under a total lockdown, including cell blockers installed in 2013 that prevent any calls, texts or internet access.

Nine cardinals are then chosen at random to perform specific roles in each voting session. These three are the scrutineers who oversee the voting. There are also three revisers who verify the results, and finally, three infirmary leave the chapel to collect votes from any sick Cardinals.

Next, the vote, Vatican law specifies the ballots be rectangular paper bearing on the upper half the words eligo in summum pontificem, or I elect as the Supreme Pontiff. The Cardinal then writes his choice for Pope on the lower half, folding the ballot twice.

Then, highest ranking cardinals, first, they carry the ballots to the altar, holding it in their hand like this, so that it can be seen. Each Cardinal then places the ballot on a receptacle covered by a plate that sits in front of the three scrutineers.

After all the Cardinals have cast their votes, the scrutineers add them up, and the totals are checked by the revisers. The names are then read aloud for all the Cardinals to hear, and then a scrutineer pierces the ballot with a needle threaded with red string through the word illegal or I elect, and secures it to the rest of the votes.

As many as four votes a day can take place, two in the morning and two in the evening. A candidate must receive more than a two thirds majority to be elected Pope.

Next, the ballots are taken to stoves in the back of the Sistine Chapel, the stove has an electronic device that adds chemicals to alter the color of the smoke. The color of the smoke from these ballots is the only indication to the outside world of whether a new pope has been chosen. Black smoke means that no candidate has received a two thirds majority and a pope has yet to be picked. White smoke means that the Cardinals have come to a consensus and the Pope has been chosen.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CHURCH: I'm joined now by Antonio Eduardo Alonso. He is an associate professor of theology and culture at Emory University here in Atlanta, and also composed the Responsorial Psalm for the first mass Pope Francis celebrated in the United States in 2015. A pleasure to have you with us.

ANTONIO EDUARDO ALONSO, ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF THEOLOGY AND CULTURE, EMORY UNIVERSITY: Delighted to be here.

CHURCH: Well, we are just hours away from all of the Cardinals filing into the Sistine Chapel and taking that first vote. So, I did want to ask you, what do you see as central criteria to selecting the next Bishop of Rome, and who do you consider to be the top contenders?

ALONSO: Yes, it's quite a momentous moment. I think that you know, the Pope has many roles. Obviously, one is as pastor, Pope Francis emphasized this so consistently, that he wanted the Pope to have the smell of the sheep, and he had that in everything that he did.

But then there's also this role as global leader, and there are some practical things that come along with that, right? Like, what languages does this person know? How can they communicate with all the leaders across the globe? How are they thinking about geopolitics across the globe as well?

And I think the cardinal electors are going to be thinking deeply about all of these things as they enter the Conclave, chanting the litany of the saints, chanting the Veni Creator Spiritus, and trying to root it all in prayer as well.

[02:25:02]

CHURCH: So, let's look at who you consider to be the top three contenders say, and whether you have a special favorite.

ALONSO: Sure. Of course, it's a fool's errand to try and guess it. I was talking with someone earlier today. I said, put no money on anyone that I suggest. That said, there are some names being batted about. One of course is Cardinal Tagle from the Philippines. He would be the first Asian Pope. Many are calling him the Asian Francis, and I think they call him that because of his pastoral style. He has great joy when he preaches, very accessible preaching, and he's very beloved in his home country.

I also think it's possible that Cardinal Parolin, who's been the Secretary of State under Pope Francis, might kind of emerge as a consensus candidate. He is someone who is very faithful to Pope Francis in his role as Secretary of State, but at the same time is seen as someone who maybe is a little bit a more moderating force in the church.

And maybe, you know, the other person I have in mind that's appearing now and again is Cardinal Turkson from Ghana. He would be the first African Pope in a very, very long time, and he was a pivotal player in Pope Francis' encyclical Laudato si' on the environment. He has deep care for the climate. He's seen as a moral leader in his own country, and I could see him emerging as a really interesting candidate as well.

CHURCH: All right, and of course, this is the most diverse college of cardinals ever, in fact, isn't it? Represented -- representing 71 countries, I believe. And that's because Pope Francis appointed most of the cardinals who will be voting on the next pope.

So, how important is it for the future of the Catholic Church to have that diversity?

ALONSO: I think that's one of Pope Francis' unsung legacies, a lot of the things that Catholics talk about, even argue about, misses the way in which he was trying to constantly push the church, not just in tone, as people rightly point out, but also in practice. Who is leading the church globally, and his appointment of people across the globe, it's a very different set of Cardinal electors than we've seen before. It's far less European than it was last time, much more increase from Asia and Africa.

And as the global leader of the Catholic Church, I think that's something also to pay attention to in this conclave.

CHURCH: And how important do you think it is to see the Cardinals select someone who will carry on the reformist work of Pope Francis?

ALONSO: Yes, I think Pope Francis, I think of his work as legacies in the plural, there's part of his work that will carry on no matter who's the next pope. He actually did change doctrine. He made the death penalty inadmissible in all cases for the first time. He raised the feast of Mary Magdalene to the same level as the apostles, which were huge doctrinal -- they have deep doctrinal importance.

At the same time, there's the question of tonal shift. He was much more welcoming, inclusive, synodal, and I would hope that any person who's elected Pope would want to live into Pope Francis' vision of a listening church that encounters everyone as they are and takes them someplace new. CHURCH: Is that the sense that you're getting that they would select

somebody who would follow in his footsteps? Or do you think they would be more centrist?

ALONSO: Yes, I think that the cardinal electors are doing a lot of discernment, a lot of conversations the general congregations they have had over the last several days have circled around a lot of different issues.

And it seems to me that most of them want to carry on the legacy of Francis, but I definitely do see kind of a desire also to hold together this diverse global church. One of my favorite definitions of Catholicism is here comes everybody, and I think the next pope is going to need to embrace that everybody.

CHURCH: And I know you don't want to speculate, necessarily, but how long do you think this is going to take? I mean, are we looking at two days? Are we looking at five days or more perhaps, do you think?

ALONSO: Yes, you know, in recent history, it's always been less than four. I think it could go on for maybe about three days. If it takes more than three full days, there's actually a pause that takes place where there's time for reflection and prayer. But I think we'll have a pope before then.

CHURCH: Very interesting to see. Antonio Eduardo Alonso. A pleasure to have you with us. Thank you so much for talking with us.

ALONSO: Thank you.

CHURCH: We are following a major escalation between two nuclear armed rivals, India and Pakistan are on the brink of war after India's early morning missile strikes. We will bring you the very latest developments just ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[02:34:05]

CHURCH: Updating our top story. According to Reuters, police in Indian-administered Kashmir, say Pakistani shelling has now killed seven people, and Reuters also reports that the Pakistani military says the death toll from Indian strikes has now risen to 26 with dozens more wounded.

Earlier, India launched military strikes on "terrorist infrastructure," targets inside Pakistan's Punjab province and in Pakistan-administered Kashmir. Pakistan claims it shot down five Indian Air Force jets in response. This comes more than two weeks after a massacre on civilians in India-controlled Kashmir, marking a dangerous escalation between the nuclear-armed rivals.

Kashmir has been a flashpoint since India and Pakistan gained their independence from Britain nearly 80 years ago.

[02:35:00] CNN's Ryan Young explains how this divided region became one of the most militarized locations in the world.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

RYAN YOUNG, CNN SENIOR NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): For nearly 80 years, the disputed region of Kashmir has been at the center of conflict between Indian and Pakistan. After the British partitioned the Indian subcontinent into the nations of India and Pakistan, several princely states and kingdoms remain independent, including Kashmir. Ultimately, the Hindu ruler of the Muslim majority region decided to join India, sparking the first war between Indian and Pakistan which killed thousands before an easy stalemate was established.

Another war over Kashmir sparked up in 1965, and the two powers went to war again in 1971, which led to the breakup of Pakistan and independent Bangladesh on India's eastern flank. Following the last war, the two sides officially established the Line of Control, the border separating the Indian-controlled part of Kashmir from the Pakistani-controlled side. India and Pakistan claim the entire region. India controls around 45 percent, Pakistan about 35 percent, and China controls the rest.

Decades ago, both sides agreed to a referendum to allow the people of Kashmir to decide which country to join, but the vote has never been held. While outright war has been avoided for decades, the region has seen numerous border clashes. And in 1989, Kashmiri militants began an insurgency against India that has lasted to this day. India has accused Pakistan of training and arming the militants, a claim Pakistan has repeatedly denied. The resulting conflict has killed tens of thousands of people, most of them civilians.

Tensions again escalated between India and Pakistan following militant attacks in 2016 and 2019. Both times, the nuclear powers were able to de-escalate the conflict before all-out war broke out.

Ryan Young, CNN.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CHURCH: Now to Washington, where a meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, did not settle the ongoing tariff dispute, but the Canadian leader did deliver a clear message on his country's sovereignty. CNN's Paula Newton has our report.

PAULA NEWTON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: To be clear, both Canadian officials and the White House really lowered expectations going into this meeting. But in terms of tone, likely it could not have gone better, even though Donald Trump continued to talk about making Canada the 51st state, the prime minister certainly stood up for Canada and made not just his opinion clear, but that of his voters. Listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MARK CARNEY, PRIME MINISTER, CANADA: If I may, as you know from real estate, there are some places that are never for sale.

DONALD TRUMP, (R) PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: That's true.

CARNEY: We are sitting in one right now, you know, Buckingham Palace that you visited as well.

TRUMP: That's true.

CARNEY: And having met with the owners of Canada over the course of the campaign last several months, it us not for sale. Won't be for sale ever.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NEWTON: To be clear, it was important for Prime Minister Carney to get in there and make that point in the Oval Office. Certainly, it will not keep Donald Trump from continually saying it. Mark Carney concedes that himself. But the rest of the conversation was quite substantive, if not sobering. Neither side really indicated that the tariffs would be lifted on Canada anytime soon, that negotiations going forward would be tough, and that Canada continues to try and take a tough stand pointing out that, look, it was the president who ripped up a trade agreement that he himself negotiated.

There is a G7 coming up in Canada in just a few weeks. These two men, certainly with other world leaders, will continue to work towards that date to see if the economic relationships can be maintained with the United States and with all of those allies. Again, Mark Carney a lot of work to do coming up as he prepares for the G7.

Paul Newton, CNN, Washington.

CHURCH: Ukrainian drones have attacked Moscow for a third straight day, just as world leaders are set to arrive for Russia's Victory Day celebrations. The attacks forced most airports in the Russian capital to close earlier. Russia's defense ministry says more than a hundred drones have been intercepted across Russia in the past few nights. The drone strikes also come ahead of the unilateral three-day ceasefire proposed by Russia in Ukraine said to begin hours from now.

Russian President Vladimir Putin wants the brief truce to coincide with the Victory Day events commemorating 80 years since the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II. Chinese President Xi Jinping is among 29 heads of state expected for the celebrations, along with the leaders of Brazil, Vietnam, Belarus, and other nations.

[02:40:00]

Well, coming up, while White House officials claim high tariffs on international goods will benefit the U.S., a port city on the other side of the country is feeling the fallout of the trade war. We'll explain.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[02:45:00]

CHURCH: Updating our top story now, the aftermath of Indian airstrikes on Pakistan. Pakistan has closed airspace around Karachi, its largest city, and Lahore in the Punjab province. Flightradar24.com shows commercial airlines avoiding Pakistani airspace. And Air India says it has canceled all flights to several cities in Indian- administered Kashmir. The travel chaos follows a night of blasts with India targeting, what it calls, terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan.

U.S. and Chinese officials plan to meet this week in Switzerland to discuss trade and tariff issues, but both sides are already downplaying expectations. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Trade Representative Jamieson Greer will travel to Geneva for those talks. Bessent says he believes the meeting will be more about de-escalation than making a deal. While China says it will not compromise its principles for the sake of reaching a deal.

Bessent said many countries are coming to the U.S. to negotiate because of President Trump's so-called strategic uncertainty approach, but he has yet to announce any actual deals.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: Everyone says, when, when, when are you going to sign deals? We don't have to sign deals. We could sign 25 deals right now.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: Until those deals are made, the people who depend on bringing imports into the country will feel the impact of the trade war. And as CNN's Nick Watt found out, they are worried it will only get worse.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

NICK WATT, CNN REPORTER (voice-over): Today, the busiest port in America isn't so busy anymore.

GENE SEROKA, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, PORT OF LOS ANGELES: This week, we're down about 35 percent compared to the same time last year. And these cargo ships coming in are the first ones to be attached to the tariffs that were levied against China and other locations last month.

SAL DICOSTANZO, INTERNATIONAL LONGSHORE AND WAREHOUSE UNION: Naturally, that's going to lead to less work.

WATT: So, we are looking at people losing money here.?

DICOSTANZO: Oh, yeah.

SEROKA: A trucker who last week was hauling about four or five containers a day, this week will likely haul just two or three.

WATT (voice-over): A stone's throw from the port, Sirens coffee shop telling CNN that tariffs have already added $700 to their weekly bill for beans. And --

YOLANDA REGALADO, OWNER, SIRENS JAVA & TEA: I'd say 80 percent of our clientele base are longshoremen.

WATT: Oh, really?

REGALADO: Yeah. So they -- a lot of them come in here. If we don't have anything happening in the port, it gets very quiet in here.

WATT: They've already seen their hours drop off?

REGALADO: Yes. Yes.

WATT: Fewer people coming in, in the morning?

REGALADO: Yes.

WATT: Already?

REGALADO: Yes.

WATT (voice-over): Port workers bracing for a hit similar to the recession of 2008.

WATT: And that recession, did people lose their jobs?

DICOSTANZO: Yeah, I lost mine.

WATT (voice-over): This week, port officials say the number of ships coming in from China is down 50 percent.

SEROKA: As far as we can see right now, this cargo volume will be light for the weeks and months ahead.

WATT (voice-over): And Americans far and wide will feel it.

DICOSTANZO: There are 900,000 workers in Southern California connected to the supply chain, and there are 9 million across the United States in all 435 congressional districts that depend on what happens right here.

WATT (voice-over): There's less coming in, also less going out. American agricultural exports are falling according to the port.

SEROKA: In fact, Brazil sold more soybeans to China in the month of March than ever in their history.

WATT: Oh, because they're not coming from here.

SEROKA: That's right.

WATT (voice-over): The Trump administration's rationale for these tariffs, bring manufacturing jobs back to the U.S.. Folks around here aren't buying it.

REGALADO: Who is it benefitting? What jobs are you talking about? You're taking away jobs. You've taken away all the jobs down at the dock. You're taking away jobs from my customers. So where is -- I don't see it. WATT: So, how bad will this get? Well, nobody really knows. What we do know is there were supposed to be 80 ships coming in here during the month of May. 20 percent of them have already been canceled. They're already seeing cancellations for June. But part of the problem is the uncertainty. Nobody knows if a deal is going to be reached. Nobody knows how bad this is going to be. And in an industry like shipping, like supply chains, uncertainty is a terrible thing.

Nick Watt, CNN, at the Port of Los Angeles.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CHURCH: Two weeks after the death of Pope Francis, Cardinals are getting ready to start the process of choosing the Catholic Church's next leader. A preview of the Conclave, coming up next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[02:54:27]

CHURCH: A recap of our top story. Pakistan is promising to respond after India launched military strikes on, what it calls, terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir. But Reuters is reporting that a Pakistan military spokesperson says at least 26 civilians were killed and 46 others injured. India says its strikes were justice for the massacre of 26 people, mostly tourists, in Indian-administered Kashmir last month.

[02:55:00]

New Delhi blames Pakistan for that attack, which Islamabad denies.

Today, 133 Catholic Cardinals will enter St. Peter's Basilica to hold what is called a mass for the election of the pontiff, before going behind the sealed doors of the Sistine Chapel to begin the papal conclave. They will not leave the Vatican until they have chosen a new leader for the church. Smoke from a chimney on the roof of the chapel will tell the world how the effort is proceeding. Black smoke means no decision. White smoke means the Cardinals have chosen the next Pope.

I want to thank you so much for your company this hour. I'm Rosemary Church. I will be back in just a moment with more "CNN Newsroom" after a short break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)