Washington , July 23: US President Donald Trump’s claims of arbitration in the Kashmir issue has escalated into a major row, with India refuting that Prime Minister Narendra Modi sought help from the US. Democratic Party MP Brad Sherman said that everyone knows that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will never do such a thing. Donald Trump’s statement is false and shameful.
Trump said at the joint press briefing with Imran Khan, “I was with Prime Minister Modi two weeks ago and we talked about this subject and he actually said: ‘Would you like to be a mediator or arbitrator’. I said ‘where’, he said ‘Kashmir’. Because this has been going on for many, many years… I think they would like to see it resolved and you (Imran Khan) would like to see it resolved. If I can help, I would love to be a mediator
MEA(Ministry of External Affairs) spokesperson Raveesh Kumar denied the claim with a post on Twitter, “We have seen @POTUS’s remarks to the press that he is ready to mediate, if requested by India & Pakistan, on Kashmir issue. No such request has been made by PM @narendramodi to US President. It has been India’s consistent position that all outstanding issues with Pakistan are discussed only bilaterally.
US Congressman Brad Sherman has apologised to Indian Ambassador to the US Harsh V Shringla over President Donald Trump’s claim that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had requested him to mediate on Kashmir issue with Pakistan.
“Everyone who knows anything about South Asia’s foreign policy knows that in the Kashmir issue India has been consistently opposing third party arbitration. Brad Sherman wrote in his second tweet, “I have apologized to Harsh Vardhan Shringla, Indian Ambassador for Donald Trump’s ‘amateurish and embarrassing’mistake.”
US lawmaker Brad Sharman has described Trump’s statement as childish, misleading and embarrassing. He tweeted, “Everyone who knows anything about foreign policy in South Asia knows that India constantly opposes third party mediation on Kashmir. Everyone knows that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will never do such a thing. Trump has given a childish, deceptive and embarrassing statement. I have just apologized to Indian ambassador Harsh Shringla for this shameful mistake of Trump. “
