US President Donald Trump has once again proposed to mediate between India and Pakistan to solve the Kashmir tensions. This comes a day after he spoke to both PM Modi and Imran Khan.
Speaking to reporters at the White House, Donald Trump said, “I will be with Prime Minister Modi I’ll be with him over the weekend in France. I think, we are helping (resolve the tense) situation (between India and Pakistan).”
While India has repeatedly told the international community, including the US, that Kashmir and the matter of scrapping Article 370 is an internal matter, Trump continues to propose mediation between India and Pakistan.
The latest proposal by Donald Trump to mediate comes a day after he spoke to both PM Modi and Pakistan PM Imran Khan.
Donald J. Trump✔@realDonaldTrump
Spoke to my two good friends, Prime Minister Modi of India, and Prime Minister Khan of Pakistan, regarding Trade, Strategic Partnerships and, most importantly, for India and Pakistan to work towards reducing tensions in Kashmir. A tough situation, but good conversations!
Addressing the media, Trump also said that there are “tremendous problems” between the two countries and thus wished to do the best to ease tensions.
“I will do the best I can to mediate or do something. (I have) great relationship with both of them, but they (India and Pakistan) are not exactly friends at this moment,” Trump said.
This comes even as Imran Khan continues with his attempts to internationalise the matter while India says Kashmir has been a bilateral issue throughout with no scope of third party mediation.
However, Khan has approached several countries, including the US and even the United Nations, seeking intervention.
India has categorically told the international community that the scrapping of Article 370 of the Constitution to revoke the special status of Jammu and Kashmir was an internal matter and also advised Pakistan to accept the reality.
“Frankly, it’s a very explosive situation. I spoke to Prime Minister Khan yesterday also with Prime Minister Modi. They’re both friends of mine. They’re great people. They’re great people, and they love their country,” Trump said.
Trump said the tensed situation also has a lot to do with religion.
“It’s a complicated situation. A lot has to do with religion. Religion is a complicated subject,” he said.
Trump said that the subcontinent is having “these talks for hundreds (sic) of years, even under different names,” he said responding to a question on Kashmir, which he said is a very complicated place.
“You have the Hindus. And you have the Muslims. I wouldn’t say they get along so great. That’s what you have right now,” he said adding that the two countries haven’t got along for a long time.
Prasanta Patnaik