Pakistan will raise Kashmir issue at international fora: Imran
BIARRITZ/LONDON: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday categorically rejected any scope for third party mediation between India and Pakistan on Kashmir, saying the two countries can discuss and resolve all issues bilaterally and “we don’t want to trouble any third country.”
Modi made these remarks while interacting with the media alongside US President Donald Trump who ahead of his meeting with the prime minister had said that he will discuss the Kashmir issue with him on the sidelines of the G7 summit in the French town of Biarritz.
Trump in recent past has offered mediation between India and Pakistan on the Kashmir issue.
“All the issues between India and Pakistan are of bilateral in nature, and we don’t want to trouble any third country. We can discuss and resolve these issues bilaterally,” Modi said. Modi said India and Pakistan were together before 1947 and he was confident that the two neighbours can discuss their problems and solve them.
“When I had called Prime Minister Khan after the elections, I told him that Pakistan has to fight against poverty, India has to also fight against it. Pakistan has to fight against illiteracy and disease, and India has to also fight against them…I told him we should work together for the welfare of our people,” Modi said.
On his part, Trump said he and Modi spoke about Kashmir “at great length” last night and he feels that both India and Pakistan can resolve it on their own.
“We spoke last night about Kashmir, the Prime Minister really feels he has it (situation) under control. They speak with Pakistan and I’m sure that they will be able to do something that will be very good,” Trump said.
“I have very good relationship with both the gentlemen (Modi and Khan) and I’m here. I think they can do it (resolve the issue) themselves,” he added.
Their meeting came against the backdrop of the Indian government revoking the special status to Jammu and Kashmir and bifurcating the state into two Union Territories on August 5.
Pak with Kashmiris: Imran Khan
Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan said on Monday that he will raise the Kashmir issue at every international forum, including at the UN General Assembly.
In his address to the nation on the Kashmir issue after India revoked the special status of Jammu and Kashmir on August 5, Khan assured the people of Pakistan that his government will stand by the Kashmiris till India lifts the restrictions in the Valley, a report from Islamabad said.
Outlining his government’s future strategy on Kashmir, Khan said: “First, I believe, the entire nation should stand with the Kashmiri nation. I have said this that I will act as Kashmir’s ambassador”.
“I will tell the world about this, I have shared this with heads of state that I have been in contact with. I will raise this issue at the UN as well,” he said while referring to his scheduled address to the UN General Assembly next month. (PTI)