PM Modi made a ‘historic blunder’ with his govt’s decisions in Kashmir
ISLAMABAD : Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan, on Monday, said that Indian PM Narendra Modi made a ‘historic blunder’ with his government’s decisions in Kashmir. Shortly after Prime Minister Narendra Modi told US President Donald Trump that Kashmir is a ‘bilateral’ matter between New Delhi and Islamabad, Khan said that he will continue sensitizing the international community on Kashmir matter.
The comments came as Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was meeting US President Donald Trump in Biarritz on the sidelines of the G7 meet to which India was invited as a special guest. Trump who had rattled India with an offer to mediate between India and Pakistan on Kashmir on Monday said Modi “really feels he has it (situation in Kashmir) under control”.
“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,” Trump added. The remarks followed Modi saying: “There are many bilateral issues between India and Pakistan, and we don’t want to trouble any third country. We can discuss and resolve these issues bilaterally.”
In his address to the nation on the Kashmir issue after India revoked the special status of Jammu and Kashmir on August 5, Mr Khan assured the people of Pakistan that his government will stand by the Kashmiris till India lifts the restrictions in the Valley.
The address came shortly after Modi told Trump that Kashmir was a bilateral matter between the two countries and that India did not intend to ‘bother’ international community with the issue. Modi and Trump held a bilateral meet on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in France.
The address assumes importance on the backdrop of India’s decision to abrogate Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir. Pakistan’s appeal to the international community to intervene in Kashmir matter has invited muted reactions from global leaders who have termed the issue a ‘bilateral matter’ between India and Pakistan.
Outlining his government’s future strategy on Kashmir, Mr 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.
“We have succeeded in internationalizing the issue of Kashmir, we talked to world leaders and embassies. UN for the first time since 1965, convened a meeting on Kashmir issue. Even international media has picked it up,” Khan said while appealing the ‘community’ to stand with Kashmiris.
Earlier this month, Pakistan downgraded diplomatic ties with India and Khan said that his government will go to any extent to counter New Delhi’s decision on Kashmir.
India has categorically told the international community that the scrapping of Article 370 was an internal matter and also advised Pakistan to accept the reality.
During PM Modi’s bilateral meeting with US President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in France on Monday, the Prime Minister 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.”
On his part, Mr Trump said he and PM Modi spoke about Kashmir “at great length” on Sunday night and he feels that both India and Pakistan can resolve it on their own.(With Agency Inputs ).
