Trump Reiterates Mediation Offer on Kashmir Issue; Lauds PM Imran’s leadership
NEW YORK– United States President Donald Trump on Monday reiterated his offer to mediate between Pakistan and India on the 70-year old Kashmir issue, lauding Prime Minister Imran
Khan’s political wisdom and leadership role for regional peace and development.
President Trump, in a joint news conference after meeting Prime Minister Imran Khan on the sidelines of the 74th United Nations General Assembly session here, said he had good relations with
both the prime ministers – Imran Khan and Narendra Modi.
The US president said Kashmir was a ‘complex’ issue andhe could mediate “if both want it”.
“I am ready, willing and able. It’s a complex issue. It’s been going on for a long time. But if both want it, I will be ready to do it,” Trump said.
This is the second interaction between the two leaders after July this year when they met at the Oval Office during the former’s bilateral visit to Washington and the latter had first made mediation offer on Kashmir.
To a question about the human rights violations in the Indian Occupied Kashmir, the US president said he wanted everyone to be treated well. He hoped that both Pakistan and India would work for resolution of the issue.
He said he wanted to meet Prime Minister Imran during the UNGA session as he (Imran) wanted to play his role for the regional development.
Referring to the “very aggressive statement” in yesterday’s address of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at a public gathering in Houston, Trump said he trusted Pakistan and Prime Minister Imran Khan, who wanted to work for development of the region.
Referring to Afghanistan, he said he had great discussion with Prime Minister Imran Khan on dialogue with the Taliban, situation in Afghanistan and regional peace.
He said they discussed enhancing the bilateral trade
volume between the two countries which was currently very low.
Prime Minister Imran Khan urged the US president to
play his role to resolve the Kashmir issue after India had turned down
his mediation offer.
He said the human catastrophe was taking place in the
territory and Trump, being the president of the most powerful country,
could help put out the flames there.
He asked President Trump to assume responsibility in
that regard as being head of a major power.
Referring to the Afghan issue, he said stability in
Afghanistan was need of the hour and in the best interest of Pakistan.
The prime minister, who reached here Saturday on
week-long visit, also met the US lawmakers, including Senate Leader
Chuck Schumer and Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee Lindsay
Graham, and US-based Kashmir leaders to discuss the Kashmir issue.
Imran Khan also met his British counterpart Boris
Johnson, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and US Special Envoy for
Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad.
SOURCE:APP
