Kashmir a bilateral issue between India, Pakistan; US welcomes them ‘sitting down’: State Dept

The Trump administration has launched a damage controlexercise after the President’s remarks about mediation on Kashmir, with theState Department on Tuesday saying it was a “bilateral” issue betweenIndia and Pakistan, and the US “welcomes” the two countries”sitting down” for talks.

It also said Pakistan taking “sustained andirreversible” steps against terrorism is key to a successful dialogue withIndia.

   

“While Kashmir is a bilateral issue for both parties todiscuss, the Trump administration welcomes Pakistan and India sitting down andthe United States stands ready to assist,” a State Department spokespersontold PTI in response to a question if Donald Trump’s remarks reflect a changein the country’s policy on Kashmir.

India has already rejected Trump’s claim that Prime MinisterNarendra Modi sought his mediation on the Kashmir issue.

For more than a decade, the US has consistently insistedthat Kashmir is a bilateral issue between India and Pakistan and it is for thetwo countries to decide on the nature and scope of the dialogue.

“We believe the foundation for any successful dialoguebetween India and Pakistan is based on Pakistan taking sustained andirreversible steps against militants and terrorists on its territory. Theseactions are in line with Prime Minister (Imran) Khan’s stated commitments, andPakistan’s international obligations,” the State Department spokespersonsaid.

“We will continue to support efforts that reducetensions and create an environment conducive for dialogue. This first andforemost means tackling the menace of terrorism. As the President indicated, westand ready to assist,” the spokesperson said in response to a question.

Meanwhile, the White House said that the US is ready toassist on the Kashmir issue.

“As the President made clear, the United States standsready to assist if requested by both India and Pakistan,” a senioradministration official told PTI.

On Monday, Trump stunned India by saying that Prime MinisterModi, during the G20 summit in Osaka, Japan, sought his help in resolving theKashmir issue.

“I was with Prime Minister Modi two weeks ago and wetalked about this subject (Kashmir). And he actually said, ‘would you like tobe a mediator or arbitrator?’ I said, ‘where?’ (Modi said) ‘Kashmir’,”Trump said during his talks with Khan, their first since the latter came topower in August, 2018.

“Because this has been going on for many, many years. Iam surprised that how long. It has been going on (for long),” he said,with Khan responding 70 years.

“I think they (Indians) would like to see it resolved.I think you would like to see it resolved. And if I can help, I would love tobe a mediator. It should be….we have two incredible countries that are very,very smart with very smart leadership, (and they) can’t solve a problem likethat. But if you would want me to mediate or arbitrate, I would be willing todo that,” Trump said.

“So all those issues should be resolved. So, he (Modi)has to ask me the same thing. So maybe we’ll speak to him. Or I’ll speak to himand we’ll see if we can do something,” Trump said.

Khan welcomed these remarks. “President, I can tell youthat, right now, you would have the prayers of over a billion people if you canmediate and resolve this issue,” he said.

In New Delhi, the Ministry of External Affairs was quick todeny that Modi ever asked for a mediation on Kashmir.

“We have seen President Trump’s remarks to the pressthat he is ready to mediate, if requested by India and Pakistan, on the Kashmirissue. No such request has been made by Prime Minister to the USPresident,” MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said.

“It has been India’s consistent position that alloutstanding issues with Pakistan are discussed only bilaterally. Any engagementwith Pakistan would require an end to cross border terrorism. The SimlaAgreement and the Lahore Declaration provide the basis to resolve all issuesbetween India and Pakistan bilaterally,” Kumar said.

In the past two-and-a-half years, the Trump administrationhas gone a step ahead, as compared to his predecessors, in supporting India’sfight against terrorism. In the immediate aftermath of the Pulwama attack, theWhite House supported India’s right to self defence.

And in the middle of the election season in India in May,the Trump administration went out of its way to ensure that 26/11 mastermindMasood Azhar is designated by the United Nations Security Council. The USexerted pressure on China which for about a decade vetoed any such move.

India has not been engaging with Pakistan since an attack onthe Air Force base at Pathankot in January of 2016, maintaining that talks andterror cannot go together.

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