New Delhi:
After US President Donald Trump told Pakistan PM Imran Khan that PM Modi sought former’s help to resolve the Kashmir issue, reactions have started pouring in. To quote Trump, “So, I was with Prime Minister Modi two weeks ago and we talked about this [Kashmir] subject and he actually said, 'Would you like to be a mediator or arbitrator? I said, 'where?' He said Kashmir...If I could help, I would love to be a mediator.â€
Congress leader Shashi Tharoor was amongst the quickest to respond as he asked Trump whether he had the slightest of idea what he was talking about. Taking to twitter, Tharoor said-
I honestly don't think Trump has the slightest idea of what he's talking about. He has either not been briefed or not understood what Modi was saying or what India's position is on 3rd-party mediation. That said, MEA should clarify that Delhi has never sought his intercession. https://t.co/DxRpNu6vw2
— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) July 22, 2019
Not only this, democratic member of United States House of Representative, Brad Sherman called Trump’s action ‘amateurish’ and added that he had ‘apologized to Indian Ambassador’ for this.
I just apologized to Indian Ambassador @HarshShringla for Trump’s amateurish and embarrassing mistake. 2/2https://t.co/EjcPaNVM0M
— Rep. Brad Sherman (@BradSherman) July 22, 2019
Sherman did not stop here and added that Trump's statement is 'embarrassing' for the United States. He tweeted-Â
Everyone who knows anything about foreign policy in South Asia knows that #India consistently opposes third-party mediation re #Kashmir. Everyone knows PM Modi would never suggest such a thing. Trump’s statement is amateurish and delusional. And embarrassing. 1/2
— Rep. Brad Sherman (@BradSherman) July 22, 2019
Refuting Trump's claim on Kashmir issue, MEA spokesperson, Raveesh Kumar's tweeted-Â
We have seen @POTUS's remarks to the press that he is ready to mediate, if requested by India & Pakistan, on Kashmir issue. No such request has been made by PM @narendramodi to US President.
— Raveesh Kumar (@MEAIndia) July 22, 2019
Raveesh added, "It has been India's consistent position that with Pakistan would require an end to cross border terrorism. The Shimla Agreement & the Lahore Declaration provide the basis to resolve all issues between India & Pakistan bilaterally.â€
Morever, this is not the first time that Trump expressed his desire to act as a mediator between both the South Asian nations. Earlier in 2016, in an interview with HT, the then Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump said that he would, "love to be the mediator or arbitrator."
Interestingly, the press release issued by the White House after the meeting between Trump and Imran has no mentioning of Kashmir issue. Although, the press release spoke how the United States seeks a peaceful South Asia.
