PM congratulates Putin on re-election as Russian President
The Prime Minister emphasized on the two nations working together to strengthen the time-tested Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership between India and Russia in the years to come.
The US has reaffirmed that there was no change in its Kashmir policy, that it is a bilateral issue between India and Pakistan.
As tensions between Pakistan and India continue to simmer, United States President Donald Trump has asked leaders of both the countries to maintain peace.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with US President Donald Trump over phone in a 30-minute long conversation during which he conveyed that “extreme rhetoric and incitement to anti-India violence by certain leaders in the region was not conducive to peace”, in reference to the Pakistani leadership which has made some anti-India statements over the Kashmir issue.
Calling it “A tough situation, but good conversations!” US President also tweeted about his conversation with his “two good friends” early Tuesday morning.
Advertisement
Spoke to my two good friends, Prime Minister Modi of India, and Prime Minister Khan of Pakistan, regarding Trade, Strategic Partnerships and, most importantly, for India and Pakistan to work towards reducing tensions in Kashmir. A tough situation, but good conversations!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 19, 2019
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan, who has been taking to Twitter to attack Prime Minister Narendra Modi, spoke with US President Donald Trump over phone. Khan has called PM Modi a fascist and racist. He also said PM Modi is turning India into a Hindu supremacist country, and that Muslims in India were being disenfranchised and “RSS goons were on the rampage.”
Already 4m Indian Muslims face detention camps & cancellation of citizenship. World must take note as this genie is out of the bottle & the doctrine of hate & genocide, with RSS goons on the rampage, will spread unless the international community acts now to stop it.
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) August 18, 2019
PM Modi also highlighted the importance of creating an environment free from terror and violence and eschewing cross-border terrorism without exception, the MEA statement said.
According to a White House readout of the conversation, President Trump spoke with Prime Minister Modi to discuss regional developments and the US-India strategic partnership. He conveyed the importance of reducing tensions between India and Pakistan and maintaining peace in the region.
The two leaders further discussed how they will continue to strengthen US-India economic ties through increased trade, and they look forward to meeting again soon, the statement said.
Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said US President Trump made a call to Imran Khan after his talk with PM Modi on the prevailing situation in Kashmir. In a press briefing in Islamabad on Monday, Qureshi said in response to Imran Khan’s call on August 16, Donald Trump made a call to Narendra Modi and expressed desire in lowering tensions between Pakistan and India.
Monday’s developments come three days after Imran Khan dialed Trump to voice his concerns over India’s “illegal” move in Kashmir, hours ahead of a UNSC closed-door discussion on Kashmir. Khan told Trump that New Delhi’s moves on Kashmir posed a threat to regional peace. President Trump focused on the importance of India and Pakistan reducing tension through bilateral dialogue.
The talks between Trump and Modi come days after US Deputy Secretary of State John Sullivan held talks with Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar in New Delhi to take forward the “deep convergences” in the India-US strategic ties, with both sides focusing on rules-based order in the Indo-Pacific, where China has increased its footprint.
The US has reaffirmed that there was no change in its Kashmir policy, that it is a bilateral issue between India and Pakistan.
Advertisement