AUGUST 26, 2019
Since the Centre decided to abrogate Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir, the regional politics surrounding the issue has escalated to the international forum.
On Monday, in a meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump, the latter said that the Kashmir issue had been discussed between the two leaders who are in France to attend the G7 Summit.
Donald Trump has repeatedly offered to mediate between India and Pakistan on the Kashmir issue but India has maintained that the dispute between the two nations is a bilateral issue.
In Biarritz, France, Donald Trump admitted that he and PM Modi had discussed Kashmir.
However, he took a different tone on his previous offers to serve as mediator.
Donald Trump said, “We spoke last night about Kashmir, Prime Minister [Modi] really feels he has it under control. They speak with Pakistan and I’m sure that they will be able to do something that will be very good.”
PM Modi reiterated India’s stance on Kashmir as he sat next to Trump. Reaffirming that Kashmir is a bilateral issue, Prime Minister Narendra Modi categorically rejected any scope for a third party mediation between India and Pakistan on Kashmir, saying the two countries can discuss and resolve all issues bilaterally and “we don’t want to trouble any third country.”
Without directly referring to the Kashmir issue, PM Modi said, “There are many issues with Pakistan are bilateral, We don’t bother other countries about these issues. We can find solutions through discussions.”
“India and Pakistan were together before 1947 and I’m confident that we can discuss our problems and solve them together,” PM Modi added.
PM Modi also said that he had spoken to Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan when the latter was elected and the duo had talked about combatting poverty in the region. “Both India and Pakistan should come together fight against poverty and for well being of our people,” said PM Modi.
Tensions between India and Pakistan spiked after India abrogated provisions of Article 370 of the Constitution to withdraw Jammu and Kashmir’s special status and bifurcated it into two Union Territories, evoking strong reactions from Pakistan.
India has categorically told the international community that the scrapping of Article 370 was an internal matter and also advised Pakistan to accept the reality.
Courtesy/Source: India Today
