Trump stresses need to reduce Indo-Pak escalation

NEW DELHI/WASHINGTON (AFP/Web Desk) – US President Donald Trump spoke with Prime Minister Imran Khan and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging a reduction of tensions between indo-Pak escalation and maintaining peace over the disputed Kashmir region. In a statement regarding Trump’s call with Modi, White House spokesperson Hoga Gidley had said: “The US president conveyed the importance of reducing tensions between India and Pakistan and maintaining peace in the region.” “The two leaders [Trump and Modi] further discussed how they will continue to strengthen US-India economic ties through increased trade, and they look forward to meeting again soon.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HyqZNSwlSLQ After phone calls to PM Khan and his Indian counterpart Trump took his twitter and said, “Spoke to my two good friends, Prime Minister Modi of India, and Prime Minister Khan of Pakistan, regarding Trade, Strategic Partnerships and, most importantly, for India and Pakistan to work towards reducing tensions in Kashmir.” “A tough situation, but good conversations!,” he added.

Spoke to my two good friends, Prime Minister Modi of India, and Prime Minister Khan of Pakistan, regarding Trade, Strategic Partnerships and, most importantly, for India and Pakistan to work towards reducing tensions in Kashmir. A tough situation, but good conversations!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 19, 2019

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lsfrXbUaQNQ Trump also talked to Prime Minister Imran Khan, their second conversation in three days on the situation in Kashmir. Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said that Prime Minister Imran Khan has represented the Pakistani nation and Kashmiri people according to their wishes by putting Kashmir case during the telephonic conversation with US President Trump. The minister said that the US president telephoned the prime minister and expressed his desire for reducing tension. He said that the PM Khan informed Trump that the unilateral decision of Modi government had endangered the region. “Imran Khan presented Pakistan’s stance, saying such steps of the Indian government aimed to alter special status of Kashmir by making demographic changes in the disputed territory to convert majority population of the people of Kashmir into minority,” FM Qureshi said. “The premier clarified Trump that all these steps of the Indian government were against the UN resolution and international laws,” Shah Mehmood Qureshi said. “We are foreseeing the situation and a humanitarian crisis are in the making. There is total blockage in the held valley. Curfew in IOK had entered into third week where one could judge the situation there,” he added. “Thousands of Kashmiris and their leadership had been detained, the Prime Minister informed the US President, adding that curfew should be lifted with immediate effect and the restrictions must be removed.” He also told that PM Khan requested the US president to talk with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi regarding the Kashmir issue because the situation in IOK was very dangerous so that Human Rights observers and groups should be sent there so that the world must know the realities. He urged the President to play his role and uphold commitments of the Indian government with international organization.