Trump urges ‘good friends’ Imran, Modi to reduce Kashmir tensions

WASHINGTON : United States (US) President Donald Trump on Tuesday has telephoned Pakistani and Indian Prime Ministers (PM) Imran Khan and Narendra Modi respectively and urged them to play role in reducing the escalating unrest in Kashmir.

In a tweet, Trump called Imran and Modi his good friends and told that a discussion was held on the ‘tough situation’ of occupied Kashmir.

He said that they also deliberated upon the trade ties and strategic partnership.

Meanwhile, White House spokesman Hogan Gidley said, “The president conveyed the importance of reducing tensions between India and Pakistan and maintaining peace in the region.”

Mounting tensions between Pakistan and India have flared following New Delhi’s scrapping of the special status for the Muslim-majority Jammu and Kashmir region.

The region has been facing a clampdown since Aug. 5 when the Indian government repealed its special status. Hundreds of people, mostly political leaders, have been detained by the authorities.

Kashmiri leaders and citizens fear the move is an attempt by India to change the demography of the state, where some groups have been fighting Indian rule for either independence, or unification with neighboring Pakistan.