Trump says situation is very tough in Kashmir.
A day after dialing Narendra Modi and Imran Khan over Kashmir issue, Donald Trump has spoken about the contentious topic again. In an interview to NBC News, US President Donald Trump has repeated his offer of looking to mediate to solve the issue despite India making it clear that it is a bilateral issue between two countries. Infact after abrogation of Article 370, Amit Shah has gone on to say that the only discussion which will be held with Pakistan will be about Pakistan Occupied Kashmir. Islamabad on the other hand, is looking to drag India to World Court known as International Court of Justice over ending of special status of Jammu and Kashmir.
Trump in his comments to NBC News said that there is a religious angle to the conflict in Jammu and Kashmir. He also said that the situation is extremely explosive and 'you have two countries that haven't got along well for a long time'. He said, "Kashmir is a very tough situation and you know we are talking about this has been going on for decades shooting".
Trump said that he had spoken to Imran Khan when he was in White House and will be meeting PM Modi during the G7 Summit at France in the weekend. Virtually repeating his mediation offer, Trump said, "I think we r helping the situation but there are tremendous problems between those two countries as you know ..and I will do the best I can to mediate or do something".
Here in the NBC News clip:
Asked about the Kashmir crisis, President Trump says that “Kashmir is a very complicated place. You have the Hindus, and you have the Muslims, and I wouldn’t say they get along so great. And that’s what you have right now.” pic.twitter.com/mss0w8U9Hd
— NBC News (@NBCNews) August 20, 2019
1. Here's full text of what Trump told NBC News
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Donald Trump said, " India and Paistan are having talks for hundreds of years even under different names but this is about Kashmir, Kashmir is a very complicated place. You have Hindus and you have the Muslims and I wouldn’t say they get along so great, that's what you have right now and you have millions of people who wanna be ruled by others and may on both sides and you have two countries that haven't got along well for a long time and frankly, it's a very explosive the situation I spoke to PM Khan and I spoke yesterday also with PM Modi they are friends of mine they are great people and they love their countries and they were in a very tough situation Kashmir ...Kashmir is a very tough situation and you know we are talking about this has been going on for decades shooting ...
I don't mean shooting a rifle ..major shooting of heavy arms and it's been going on for a long period of time but I really well with both of them as you know PM Khan was here just recently and I am gonna with PM Modi I will be with him over a weekend in France so I think we are helping the situation but there are tremendous problems between those two countries as you know ..and I will do the best I can to mediate or do something we have great relationship with both of them but they are not exactly friends at this moment.. complicated situation a lot has to do with religion ... religions are a complicated subject."
2. US asks Pakistan to soften rhetoric against India
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The US President Donald Trump has asked Pakistan to moderate anti-India comments against India, which has increased significantly by Islamabad since New Delhi's internal decision to remove the special status for the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir.
A readout by the white house said, “President Donald J. Trump spoke by telephone with Prime Minister Imran Khan today to discuss the need to reduce tensions and moderate rhetoric with India over the situation in Jammu and Kashmir."The President also "reaffirmed the need to avoid escalation of the situation, and urged restraint on both sides", the white house read out Imran Trump talks added.
Pakistani Prime Minister has been daily tweeting anti-India and comparing Indian leadership with Hiter and Nazi party, which many believe is growing sign of frustration in Islamabad.This is the 2nd conversation between Imran Khan and Donal Trump in last 4 day. Pakistani Prime Minister had called US President on friday, just before the United Nations security council consultation meet.
Remember, Donald Trump spoke to both Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday in a conversation that lasted for about half an hour. The anti-India comments by Pakistani Prime Minister were raised during PM Modi's conversation with President trump.
An Indian govt statement said, the "Prime Minister stated that extreme rhetoric and incitement to anti-India violence by certain leaders in the region was not conducive to peace."During Trump Modi conversation, India raised the issue of cross border terror and need to create an "environment free from terror and violence". Pakistan has been hoping US will mediate between New Delhi and Islamabad, but Washington has made it clear both the neighbours need to bilaterally resolve all issues.
3. India has rejected Trump's mediation offer in the past
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External affairs minister S Jaishankar met US secretary of state Mike Pompeo on the sidelines of 9th East Asia Summit Foreign Ministers meet in Bangkok, Thailand.
After the meeting, EAM Jaishankar tweeted:
Wide ranging discussions with @SecPompeo on regional issues. pic.twitter.com/SOLxBDe3Q0
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) August 2, 2019
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
Jaishankar wrote, "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."
Earlier Jaishankar said the same thing in the Parliament that India will go by the precedents of Lahore Declaration and Shimla Treaty to discuss bilateral issues with Pakistan and doesn't need any third party intervention.
Later, Rajnath Singh upped the ante saying the only discussion with Pakistan regarding Kashmir will be about PoK.
