Washington DC, August 23: United States President Donald Trump said on Thursday he planned to hold talks on the Kashmir issue and human rights system with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the G7 summit this weekend in Biarritz, France.
A top-level US administrative official who briefed journalists over Trump’s planned agenda for the coming summit scheduled for Saturday stated the Kashmir issue between Pakistan and India are expected to be raised.
The official said, “President Trump will likely want to hear from Prime Minister Modi on how he plans to reduce regional tensions and uphold respect for human rights in Kashmir.”
After holding brief discussions with Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan two days back, Trump yet again offered a proposal to mediate on the Kashmir issue between the two neighbouring nations, despite making it clear earlier the Kashmir issue should be resolved by India and Pakistan through bilateral means.
Ratcheting up rhetoric against New Delhi, Islamabad is trying hard to drag the international community in the wake of Modi-led central government BJP’s decision to scrap Article 370 that offered a special status to Jammu and Kashmir.
However, briefing on Khan’s request, Trump swiftly changed his stance and proposed to mediate on the Kashmir issue once again.
Describing pertaining condition in Kashmir a “complicated situation”, the US president said, “A lot has to do with religion. You have the Hindus, and you have the Muslims. This has been going on for decades.”
The official said, “The president is also calling for Pakistan to prevent cross-border infiltration across the Line of Control and stop groups based on its soil that have attacked India in the past.