Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Tuesday expressed his surprise at India's reaction to US President Donald Trump's offer of mediation for resolving the Kashmir issue. Khan also said that Trump has offered the mediation to bring Pakistan and India to the dialogue table for resolving Kashmir conflict which has held the subcontinent hostage for 70 years. He also added that generations of Kashmiris have suffered and are suffering daily and need conflict resolution.
3. Surprised by reaction of India to Pres Trump's offer of mediation to bring Pak & India to dialogue table for resolving Kashmir conflict which has held subcontinent hostage for 70 yrs. Generations of Kashmiris have suffered & are suffering daily and need conflict resolution.
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) July 23, 2019
Khan had on Monday brought up the issue of Kashmir when he met Trump at the White House and it was reported that Trump offered to negotiate in the matter. Trump, however, went on to claim that the request for mediation in the matter had also been made by India, which is completely false.
Taking to Twitter, Khan wrote, "Surprised by reaction of India to Pres Trump's offer of mediation to bring Pak & India to dialogue table for resolving Kashmir conflict which has held subcontinent hostage for 70 yrs. Generations of Kashmiris have suffered & are suffering daily and need conflict resolution.
India has always maintained that the Kashmir issue is for India and Pakistan to resolve alone and no third country should get itself involved. India has also maintained that peace talks between the two countries can only happen when Pakistan stop sheltering and supporting terrorists.
Interestingly, in a press release issued by the White House shortly after the meeting, Trump's remarks on Kashmir were not mentioned at all. Instead, it spoke of how the US is interested in a peaceful South Asia. "The United States is committed to creating the conditions necessary for a peaceful South Asia," read the statement.
While Imran was discussing Kashmir - among other matters - inside the Oval Office, he had to face embarrassment on the streets just outside White House with mobile banners displaying pro-Balochistan slogans doing the rounds here. Pakistan is accused by Baloch activists of violating human rights in the province and of forced disappearances. Baloch activists have also urged Trump to take action in the matter. A day earlier, Imran's speech at Capital One Arena was disrupted by Baloch activists. Members of Muttahida Qasmi Movement (MQM) and other minority groups have also held protests.
