Trump reiterates offer to mediate Kashmir dispute
POTUS Donald Trump has reiterated his offer to mediate the Kashmir dispute between Pakistan and India. At a presser US president told reporters that he is willing to intervene but a decision would be up to the leaders of both the countries.
It was few weeks ago when Donald Trump during the meeting with Pakistani PM Imran Khan revealed that he has been asked by Indian PM Modi to intervene as a mediator over disputed Kashmir, however New Delhi refuted any request made by Indian PM.
Donald Trump offers to mediate between Pakistan and India on Kashmir
Trump, when questioned on Thursday by a reporter regarding India’s rejection of third-party mediation, asked: “Have they accepted the offer or not?”
When told no, he said: “It is really up to Prime Minister [Narendra] Modi.”
“I met Prime Minister [Imran] Khan, I got along great with [the premier]. I think they are fantastic people — Khan and Modi — I mean, I would imagine they could get along very well,” he added.
“But if they wanted somebody to intervene, to help them […] and I spoke with Pakistan about that and I spoke frankly in India about it […] that battle has been going on for a long time.”
“If I can, if they wanted me to, I would certainly intervene,” Trump said.
To this development, India again has rejected President Trump’s offer.
India’s foreign minister said he has told Secretary of State Mike Pompeo that any discussion of the disputed Himalayan region would be between India and Pakistan only, as the two men met on Friday on the sidelines of an Asian security forum in Bangkok.
Indian Minister for External Affairs S. Jaishankar in a tweet said, “Have conveyed to American counterpart @SecPompeo this morning in clear terms that any discussion on Kashmir if at all warranted, will only be with Pakistan and only bilaterally”.
Have conveyed to American counterpart @SecPompeo this morning in clear terms that any discussion on Kashmir, if at all warranted, will only be with Pakistan and only bilaterally.
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) August 2, 2019
