News Desk |
“The President does not make things up”, said a top White House economic adviser, Larry Kudlow, on Tuesday, denying all reports that US President Trump lied in his claim that Indian Prime Minister Modi asked him to act as a mediator between Pakistan and India on the Kashmir conflict.
JUST NOW: I asked @larry_kudlow if @realDonaldTrump lied when he said he’d been asked to mediate between India and Pakistan on Kashmir (which India denied).
“The President doesn’t make things up,” he said, calling my question “very rude” pic.twitter.com/PtkDS7oc6q
— Andrew Feinberg (@AndrewFeinberg) July 23, 2019
Larry Kudlow, White House economic adviser, was addressing the press when he was asked whether Trump fabricated Modi’s request, which Kudlow regarded as a “very rude question”.
https://twitter.com/chauhanshul/status/1153983618001195009
Kudlow noted, “The President doesn’t make things up.” However, he declined to address the issue further, stating that it falls “out of my lane” and it should be addressed by US National Security Adviser John Bolton or US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.
Addressing a joint press briefing with Prime Minister Imran Khan at the Oval Office on Monday, President Trump had noted that Prime Minister Modi had asked him to play the role of a “mediator or arbitrator” on the long-standing issue of Kashmir. Trump, after having the longest discussion on Kashmir witnessed in the White House, promised to help if the two countries would need him to mediate.
Given the negative response emanating from India after President Donald Trump’s offer to mediate on the Kashmir issue.
Shortly after Trump’s offer, his claim was rejected by New Delhi, stating that Narendra Modi had never asked for mediation on Kashmir, and that Pakistan and India are bound by bilateral dialogue on such an issue.
Read more: Pakistan will give up Nuclear weapons if India does: PM Khan
A statement issued by the US State Department on Monday, noted, “While Kashmir is a bilateral issue for both parties to discuss, the Trump administration welcomes Pakistan and India sitting down and the United States stands ready to assist.”
While Kashmir is a bilateral issue for both parties to discuss, the Trump administration welcomes #Pakistan and #India sitting down and the United States stands ready to assist. – AGW
— State_SCA (@State_SCA) July 22, 2019
“I would love to be a Mediator”
Transcripts of the official communication during the press briefing by Prime Minister Khan and President Trump, issued by the White House, clearly indicated Trump’s interaction on the issue of Kashmir. No other American President or Pakistani Prime Minister has discussed the issue of Kashmir at such lengths in the history of the White House.
President Trump had said, “So I was with — 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.”
Read more: PM Khan’s popularity remains unchanged despite controversies
Kashmir is supposed to be the “beautiful part of the world” — Trump pic.twitter.com/YweLVF6BHS
— Baba Umar (@BabaUmarr) July 22, 2019
Trump went on to say, “And I think they’d like to see it resolved. And I think you’d like to see it resolved. And if I can help, I would love to be a mediator. It shouldn’t be — I mean, it’s impossible to believe two incredible countries that are very, very smart, with very smart leadership, can’t solve a problem like that. But if you want me to mediate or arbitrate, I would be willing to do that.”
Prime Minister Imran Khan reminded Indians of the sufferings of the Kashmiris.
Prime Minister Imran Khan stated that if he mediates and resolves the Kashmir dispute, billions will pray for President Trump. The US President responded, “It should be resolved. So it — but he asked me the same, so I think there’s something. So maybe we’ll speak to him or I’ll speak to him, and we’ll see if we can do something because I’ve heard so much about Kashmir.”
Praising the valley and underscoring the persistent state of chaos and turmoil in Kashmir, Trump continued, “Such a beautiful name. It’s supposed to be such a beautiful part of the world. But right now there’s just bombs all over the place. They say everywhere you go, you have bombs and it’s a terrible situation. Been going on for many years. If I can do anything to help that, let me know.”
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India Rejects Trump’s Offer
Trump’s offer for mediation on the Kashmir issue has won widespread support from Pakistan and Kashmir, however, the Indian public, leaders and newsmen are feigning disbelief, accusing the US President of lying and fabricating his claims.
Prime Minister Imran Khan stated that if he mediates and resolves the Kashmir dispute, billions will pray for President Trump.
Seeking a response from Prime Minister Modi, Rahul Gandhi, leader of the Indian National Congress, accused Modi of “betraying India’s interests.”
Gandhi tweeted, “President Trump says PM Modi asked him to mediate between India & Pakistan on Kashmir! If true, PM Modi has betrayed India’s interests & 1972 Shimla Agreement. A weak Foreign Ministry denial won’t do. PM must tell the nation what transpired in the meeting between him & the President of the United States.”
Read more: Who pulled the bigger crowd in US: Imran Khan vs Modi
President Trump says PM Modi asked him to mediate between India & Pakistan on Kashmir!
If true, PM Modi has betrayed India’s interests & 1972 Shimla Agreement.
A weak Foreign Ministry denial won’t do. PM must tell the nation what transpired in the meeting between him & @POTUS
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) July 23, 2019
Parliamentarians and lawmakers across created a hue and cry in the Indian parliament, which prompted the Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar to deny Trump’s claims. Jaishankar said, “I would like to categorically assure the House that no such request has been made by PM Modi to the US President. I repeat, no such request was made by the Prime Minister to the US President.”
"I would like to categorically assure the House that no such request has been made by PM Modi", says EAM S Jaishankar in #RajyaSabha on Trump's statement that PM Modi had asked him to mediate in Kashmir issue. pic.twitter.com/WolXUQtQEA
— All India Radio News (@airnewsalerts) July 23, 2019
Given the negative response emanating from India after President Donald Trump’s offer to mediate on the Kashmir issue, Prime Minister Imran Khan reminded Indians of the sufferings of the Kashmiris.
Read more: Mike Pompeo to Imran Khan: ‘You were a rockstar at Capital One Arena’
The Prime Minister tweeted, “Surprised by reaction of India to President 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.”
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