Twitter reacts to Imran's 'surprise'
Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Tuesday said that he was "surprised" by India's reaction to US President Donald Trump's offer of mediation for resolving the Kashmir issue which, according to him, has held the subcontinent hostage for 70 years.
India has not been engaging with Pakistan since an attack on the Air Force base at Pathankot in January of 2016 by Pakistan-based terrorists, maintaining that talks and terror cannot go together.
"Surprised by reaction of India to Pres Trump's offer of mediation to bring Pak & India to dialogue table for resolving Kashmir conflict which has held subcontinent hostage for 70 yrs," Khan, who is here on a three-day working visit, tweeted at the end of his maiden trip to the US.
"Generations of Kashmiris have suffered & are suffering daily and need conflict resolution," he tweeted.
Trump on Monday offered to be the "mediator" between India and Pakistan on the Kashmir issue during his meeting with Khan at the White House.
India has firmly rejected Trump's offer, saying that New Delhi's consistent position has been that all outstanding issues with Pakistan are discussed only bilaterally.
Many will be surprised by his surprise https://t.co/cb5fGqhjrz
— Hannah Bloch (@HannahBloch) July 23, 2019
It's the sort of surprise a fast bowler expresses when discovered with a bottle cap in his pocket.
— krishnadev calamur (@kcalamur) July 23, 2019
Kaptaan Saab, you were surprised by Trump's reaction.
— Gabbbar (@GabbbarSingh) July 23, 2019
Surprised to see a president of United States threatening to bomb Afghanistan an lying blatantly about India’s request. Not surprised to see a selected PM leaking his boots. BTW, were you allowed to say ISI gave to US bin Laden’s whereabouts?
— FrancescaMarino (@francescam63) July 23, 2019
— अंकित जैन (@indiantweeter) July 23, 2019
Congratulations to the puppet of Pakistan & ISI. You succeeded at the old game of blackmailing US once again. @realDonaldTrump turned out to be just like his predecessors; fearful & nervous that nuclear jihadi Pakistan will blow up itself & others if US doesn’t toe its line.
— Aarti Tikoo Singh (@AartiTikoo) July 23, 2019
1. Opp demands Modi speak up
2. MEA denial
3. Jaishankar clarifies
4. 'Kashmir is a bilateral issue': Azad
"No matter which government was in power at Centre in past, our foreign policy has been that Kashmir is bilateral issue and no third party can intervene and President Trump knows it, I don't think President Trump would tell Pakistan's PM that India's PM has asked the US to mediate," Azad said.
The Trinamool Congress' Derek O'Brien said his party wants the prime minister to make a statement on the issue to clear the air.
"Along with all opposition parties, we, Trinamool, have a simple demand. The PM of India has to come to Parliament, make a statement and clear the air," he said. PDP president and former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufti said Trump's "disclosure" on third party mediation on Kashmir is a "huge policy shift" and India and Pakistan must seize the opportunity to forge peace through dialogue.
The Congress along with other opposition parties on Monday night had also demanded a clarification from Modi on whether there has been a shift in India's position of no third party involvement in the Kashmir issue after Trump offered to mediate between India and Pakistan on the matter.
Trump claims that Modi asked him to mediate on the Kashmir issue when they met in Osaka, Japan, on the sidelines of the G-20 Summit last month.
"If I can help, I would love to be a mediator. If I can do anything to help, let me know," Trump said in response to a question, adding he is ready to help, if the two countries ask for it.
"I was with Prime Minister Modi two weeks ago and we talked about this subject (Kashmir). And he actually said, 'would you like to be a mediator or arbitrator?' I said, 'where?' (Modi said) 'Kashmir'," Trump said.