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Kashmir issue

Trump talks with India, Pakistan PMs


Published : 20 Aug 2019 08:29 PM | Updated : 06 Sep 2020 03:11 PM

The US President Donald Trump spoke with the prime ministers of India and Pakistan on Monday, urging them to reduce tensions over the disputed region of Kashmir, report agencies. “Spoke to my two good friends, Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi of India, and Prime Minister (Imran) Khan of Pakistan, regarding Trade, Strategic Partnerships and, most importantly, for India and Pakistan to work towards reducing tensions in Kashmir,” Trump tweeted.

“A tough situation, but good conversations!” the president wrote. On August 5, New Delhi scrapped Article 370 in the Indian constitution that had granted Kashmir special autonomy. It split the state of Jammu and Kashmir in two and downgraded their status to union territories, sparking a row with Pakistan. Modi’s government also restricted freedom of movement in the region and cut the internet and phone lines.

Kashmir — which has been divided between India and Pakistan since their independence in 1947 — has been the spark for two major wars and countless clashes between the nuclear-armed arch-rivals, most recently in February when they conducted tit-for-tat air strikes. Meanwhile, our New Delhi Correspondent adds: During the 30-minute Modi-Trump talks, Modi highlighted the importance of creating an environment free from terror and violence and eschewing cross-border terrorism without exception, a statement issued by the Indian Prime Minister’s Office said.

“Their thirty-minute conversation covered bilateral and regional matters and was marked by the warmth and cordiality which characterizes the relations between the two leaders,” it said. According to the statement, “In the context of the regional situation, the Prime Minister stated that extreme rhetoric and incitement to anti-India violence by certain leaders in the region was not conducive to peace.

“He (Modi) highlighted the importance of creating an environment free from terror and violence and eschewing cross-border terrorism without exception,” it added. The Indian Prime Minister reiterated India’s commitment to cooperate with anyone who followed this path, in fighting poverty, illiteracy and disease. Imran Khan had in the last few days repeatedly made bellicose statements against India trying to create a conflict-like perception. In one such outburst last Sunday, Khan had accused the Indian government of being “racist” and following the “Nazi ideology”.

Sources said it was Trump who had made the phone call to Modi. This was the first contact between Modi and Trump since India revoked Article 370 which gave special status to Kashmir on August 5. Recalling that Monday marked one hundred years of the Independence of Afghanistan, the Indian Prime Minister reiterated India’s longstanding and unwavering commitment to work for united, secure, democratic and truly independent Afghanistan.

This underlined India’s role as a key stakeholder in peace and stability in Afghanistan at a time when Trump is looking to secure Pakistan’s support to strike a peace deal with the Taliban before the US could reduce its troops from that country. Modi and Trump are set to take part in the G20 Summit in Biarritiz, France, on August 25-26. The two leaders had met each other in Osaka, Japan, in June.