Kashmir is a complicated place, says Donald Trump offering to mediate again
Washington, Aug 21 (IBNS): Amid growing tension between India and Pakistan following the PM Narendra Modi-led government's recent move of scrapping Article 370 which gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir, US President Donald Trump on Tuesday once again offered to mediate and solve the "explosive" situation in Kashmir.
He described Kashmir as a 'complicated place'.
"It’s Kashmir. And Kashmir is a very complicated place. You have the Hindus and you have the Muslims, and I wouldn’t say they get along so great. And that’s what you have right now," Trump told reporters in White House.
"And you have millions of people that want to be ruled by others, and maybe on both sides. And you have two countries that haven’t gotten along well for a long time. And, frankly, it’s a very explosive situation," he said.
Trump recently spoke to Pakistan PM Imran Khan and Indian PM Narendra Modi over the phone.
"I spoke to Prime Minister Khan. I spoke with, yesterday, also, Prime Minster Modi. They’re both friends of mine. They’re great people. They’re great people. And they love their countries. And they’re in a very tough situation," he said.
"Kashmir is a very tough situation. And, you know, we’re talking about — this has been going on for decades and decades," he said.
Offering to mediate, Trump once said: "I will do the best I can to mediate or do something. Great relationship with both of them, but they are not exactly friends at this moment. Complicated situation. A lot has to do with religion. Religion is a complicated subject."
Trump had offered to mediate earlier as well.
Trump made the comments at a time when it has been little over two weeks since the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government decided to take away the special status of Jammu and Kashmir by scrapping Articles 370 and 35A.
The government bifurcated Jammu and Kashmir into two Union Territories, Jammu and Kashmir with an assembly and Ladakh without an assembly.
Article 35A of the Indian Constitution allowed the Jammu and Kashmir state's legislature to define “permanent residents” of the state and also provided special rights and privileges to those permanent residents.
Article 370 allowed Jammu and Kashmir to have its own constitution, flag and right to handle its own laws except on matters that impact national security.
While there has been a dispute between India and Pakistan over Kashmir, Trump had earlier offered to help resolve the Kashmir issue between India and Pakistan during his meeting with Pakistan President Imran Khan in Washington.
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