NEW YORK – US President Donald Trump asked India’s Prime Minister NarendraModi on Tuesday to “fulfill his promise to better the lives of the Kashmiripeople”, the White House said in a statement after the two leaders met onthe sidelines of the 74th session of the United Nations General Assembly inNew York.
India and Pakistan have contended for the Kashmir region — the southernpart of which lies in India’s Jammu and Kashmir state — since the end ofBritish rule in 1947. Despite a ceasefire reached in 2003 after severalarmed conflicts instability remained.
Tensions increased earlier in August after India revoked the special statusof the Jammu and Kashmir state. Under the government’s new initiative,Jammu and Kashmir will be divided into two union territories that will beunder New Delhi control.
Pakistan reacted angrily to India downgrading the Muslim-majority region toa territory and promised to protect Kashmiris. Islamabad expelled theIndian ambassador, halted bilateral trade and promised to raise the issuewith the International Court of Justice.
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On Monday, Trump discussed withPakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan possibleways to de-escalate existing tensions between Islamabad and New Delhi.Trump and Khan also talked about efforts to combat terrorism and theimportance of an Indo-Pakistani dialogue to resolve disputes, according tothe White House.
