Surprised By India's Reaction To Trump's Offer Of Mediation On Kashmir Issue: Imran Khan

As a political chaos took over India's Parliament over Trump's claim of mediation on Kashmir issue, despite a denial by EAM Jaishankar, Pakistan PM Imran Khan said that he was surprised by the way India has reacted to the US President's "offer of mediation" to bring the two countries on a dialogue table.

Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan (Photo by Nicholas Kamm / AFP)

New Delhi: Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Tuesday responded to India’s denial of Trump’s claim about Prime Minister Modi seeking US mediation on Kashmir issue, and said that he was surprised by the neighboring country's reaction to “Trump’s offer of mediation”. “Surprised by reaction of India to President Trump's offer of mediation to bring Pakistan and  India to dialogue table for resolving Kashmir conflict which has held subcontinent hostage for 70 years,” he said in a tweet. “Generations of Kashmiris have suffered and are suffering daily and need conflict resolution,” he added.

3. Surprised by reaction of India to Pres Trump's offer of mediation to bring Pak & India to dialogue table for resolving Kashmir conflict which has held subcontinent hostage for 70 yrs. Generations of Kashmiris have suffered & are suffering daily and need conflict resolution.

— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) July 23, 2019

Khan made a series of tweets on Tuesday evening to encapsulate his maiden US visit. “I want to thank President Trump for his warm and gracious hospitality, his understanding of Pakistan's point of view and his wonderful way of putting our entire delegation at ease. Appreciate the President taking out time to show us the historic White House private quarters,” he said in the first tweet. “I want to assure President Trump Pakistan will do everything within its power to facilitate the Afghan peace process. The world owes it to the long-suffering Afghan people to bring about peace after 4 decades of conflict,” Khan said in his next tweet.

2. I want to assure President Trump Pakistan will do everything within its power to facilitate the Afghan peace process. The world owes it to the long-suffering Afghan people to bring about peace after 4 decades of conflict.

— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) July 23, 2019

1. I want to thank President Trump for his warm & gracious hospitality, his understanding of Pakistan's point of view & his wonderful way of putting our entire delegation at ease. Appreciate the President taking out time to show us the historic White House private quarters.

— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) July 23, 2019

On Monday, during talks with Khan, US President Donald Trump claimed that Prime Minister Modi, during the G20 summit in Osaka, Japan, sought his help in resolving the Kashmir issue. Trump's claim has triggered an uproar in India with the opposition demanding a clarification from the Prime Minister, while India’s Foreign Ministry has strongly denied the claims of the US President. If what Trump claims is true, Modi has betrayed India's interests, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said, a sentiment backed by several Opposition leaders who spoke out in Parliament and outside. "I was with Prime Minister Modi two weeks ago and we talked about this subject (Kashmir). And he actually said, 'would you like to be a mediator or arbitrator?' I said, 'where?' (Modi said) 'Kashmir'," Trump said during his talks with Khan, their first since the latter came to power in August, 2018. "Because this has been going on for many, many years. I am surprised that how long. It has been going on (for long)," he said, with Khan responding 70 years. India has not been engaging with Pakistan since an attack on the Air Force base at Pathankot in January of 2016 by Pakistan-based terrorists, maintaining that talks and terror cannot go together.