Srinagar, May 12 : A fresh diplomatic divide has emerged between India and Pakistan over remarks by former US President Donald Trump, who offered to mediate the decades-old Kashmir conflict between the two South Asian neighbours. While India categorically rejected the idea, Pakistan welcomed the gesture.
Speaking to the media in Singapore, India’s High Commissioner Shilpak Ambule made it clear that New Delhi views Kashmir strictly as a bilateral issue. “For us, the word mediation does not work with the Kashmir issue,” he stated.
“Kashmir is not an international issue; it is a matter strictly between India and Pakistan.”
In sharp contrast, Pakistan’s Foreign Office in Islamabad issued a statement appreciating Trump’s willingness to engage in what it described as efforts aimed at resolving a “longstanding issue that has serious implications for peace and security in South Asia and beyond.” Islamabad reiterated its long-held stance that Kashmir must be settled “in accordance with the relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions.”
The renewed international attention comes just days after India and Pakistan agreed to a ceasefire following four days of intense cross-border hostilities, which brought the nuclear-armed neighbours to the brink of escalation. The United States has claimed it played a behind-the-scenes role in helping de-escalate tensions, though details of its involvement remain unclear. (CNS)
