Indian PM Narendra Modi to meet Donald Trump in New York today
New York, Sept 24 (IBNS): A day after the 'Howdy, Modi!' event, when the two leaders shared the stage and addressed the gathering, Indian PM Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump will once again meet on the sidelines of the 74th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York on Tuesday.
The 'Howdy, Modi!' event was attended by nearly 50,000 Indian-Americans in Houston.
Meanwhile, Trump met Pakistan PM Imran Khan on Monday.
During the meet, Trump once again said he is ready to 'mediate' between India and Pakistan over the Kashmir issue.
" If I can help, I would certainly do that. And it will be dependent on both of these gentlemen. One without the other doesn’t work, if you’re going to do mediation or if you’re going to do an arbitration," Trump told reporters.
"But certainly, I would be willing to help if both wanted. If both Pakistan, let’s say, and India wanted me to do that, I am ready, willing, and able. It’s a complex issue. It’s been going on for a long time. But if both wanted it, I would be ready to do it," he said.
Speaking on the Kashmir issue, Trump said: "Sure. I’d like to see everything work out. I want it to be humane. I want everybody to be treated well. You have two big countries, and they’re warring countries and they’ve been fighting."
Trump referred to the 'Howdy, Modi!' event and said: "I mean, I heard a very aggressive statement yesterday. I don’t have to say that. I was there. I didn’t know I was going to hear that statement, I had said. But I was sitting there and I heard a very aggressive statement yesterday from India, from the Prime Minister, and I will say it was very well received within the rule — you know, within in the room. The statement itself. That was a big room; there were 59,000 people."
President @realDonaldTrump just kicked off a full slate of bilateral meetings on the sidelines of #UNGA!
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) September 23, 2019
He spoke with PM @ImranKhanPTI of Pakistan about opportunities to build on energy cooperation and trade ties between our two countries. pic.twitter.com/XzgQy1bX3L
"But it was a very aggressive statement, and I hope that they’re going to be able to come together — India and Pakistan — and do something that’s really smart and good for both. And I’m sure there could be — there’s always a solution. And I really believe there’s a solution for that," he said.
Amid Trump's offer to act as a mediator, Indian PM Narendra Modi had earlier said issues between India and Pakistan are 'bilateral in nature' and both nations could sort them out.
Modi had made the remark during his meeting with Trump at the sidelines of the G7 Summit.
In a major move since Independence, the Indian government on August 5 scrapped the Articles 370 and 35A which provided special status to Jammu and Kashmir.
The government also 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.
The decision had further escalated tension between India and Pakistan in recent times.
Prime Minister's programme in the US on Sept 24
1215 hrs : Meeting with President Donald Trump of USA
1315 hrs : State Luncheon for HODs to the 74th UNGA hosted by UNSG
1530 hrs : India-Pacific Islands’ Leaders’ Meeting
1830 hrs : Gandhi@150 Event
2010 hrs : Goalkeepers Global Goals Award 2019 – Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
(All times local, approx)
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