United States (US) President Donald Trump on Monday said that the conflict between Pakistan and India over occupied Kashmir was “a little less heated” currently as compared to what it was two weeks ago.
While speaking to media before departing from the White House in Washington DC on Monday, the US president reiterated his offer to help the two neighbouring countries to settle the dispute.
“India and Pakistan are having a conflict over Kashmir as you know. I think it’s a little bit less heated right now than it was two weeks and I’m willing to help them,” Trump told a reporter.
“I get along with both countries very well. I’m willing to help them if they want, they know that is out there,” he continued.
The US president had previously also offered to mediate between the two neighbouring yet hostile countries on Kashmir, a mountainous region which has been the source of repeated confrontations between the two nuclear-armed neighbours ever since they gained independence from British colonial rule in 1947.
Trump discussed the issue on the sidelines of a G7 summit in France with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who withdrew autonomy for the state of IOK on August 5. “We spoke last night about Kashmir, the prime minister really feels he has it under control. They speak with Pakistan and I’m sure that they will be able to do something that will be very good,” Trump had told reporters.
Trump infuriated the Indian government in August this year when he said Modi had asked him to mediate the dispute, drawing an immediate denial from New Delhi.
Sitting alongside Trump, Modi said the issues over occupied Kashmir were bilateral, between Pakistan and India.