Narendra Modi Speaks to Donald Trump to Discuss Kashmir and Bilateral Issues

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had a 30-minute telephonic conversation with US President Donald Trump on Monday. They discuss bilateral issues and also Kashmir. The talks are a first since the government of India announced its decision on Jammu and Kashmir, while Pakistan continues in its unsuccessful attempts to raise the issue in international forums. 

Apart from bilateral issues, the two leaders also discussed the regional situation, during the talks Prime Minister Narendra Modi, “stated that extreme rhetoric and incitement to anti-India violence by certain leaders in the region was not conducive to peace”, according to the statement released by the government.

The statement also added, “He highlighted the importance of creating an environment free from terror and violence and eschewing cross-border terrorism without exception”, indicating that the Prime Minister has underscored New Delhi’s stance.

Meanwhile, a statement from the White House, which was released later said, “The President conveyed the importance of reducing tensions between India and Pakistan and maintaining peace in the region”.

Few days before Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan had a discussion with US President Donald Trump, in which Trump has pushed for talks between India and Pakistan. 

Pakistan said it has raised its concerned before the US President. Pak Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood said, “Prime Minister Khan conveyed Pakistan’s concern on recent developments in Kashmir and the threat they pose to regional peace”.

Pakistan continues in its attempts to convince International community that what happened in Kashmir is wrong and that India is reluctant towards peace talks and bilateral discussion. Recently Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan also posted a series of derogatory tweets, in which he labeled the Indian government as ‘fascist’ and ‘racist’ and called the attention of the International community to the ‘nuclear arsenal’ in the control of India.

Last week, Pakistan has failed in its attempts to create a stir in the United Nations Security Council over Kashmir, as it fell flat after most of the participating nations agreed that the decision to end the special status of Jammu and Kashmir and dividing it into two union territories was a bilateral matter between India and Pakistan.

The meeting of the 15 nations, which includes five permanent members and 10 rotating members ended without any resolution, which was seen as a massive failure for Pakistan and China, its all-time ally. 

A few days earlier, US President Donald Trump also offered to mediate on the Kashmir issue if India and Pakistan agreed. During a joint press conference with Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan at the White House, Trump stunned everyone by saying that Prime Minister Narendra Modi also sought his ‘mediation’, on the Kashmir issue, a claim, which was denied by India. Days after India’s move, US President Trump also made it clear that the offer is no longer on the table.

India is high in its spirit as Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh recently signaling India’s tough stand said India reserves the right to revoke its ‘No First Use’ pledge, the cornerstone of India’s nuclear weapons policy for decades.