BackTies between India and Pakistan are 'less heated' now than two weeks ago: Trump
Tensions between India and Pakistan escalated after New Delhi revoked the special status granted to J&K by scrapping Article 370 Trump's comments come two weeks after his meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the G7 summit in France
PremiumNEW DELHI: Ties between India and Pakistan are "less heated" now compared to the situation two weeks ago, US President Donald Trump said on Monday, reiterating his offer to help the two South Asian neighbours resolve bilateral issues only if they both want help with mediation.
"India and Pakistan are having a conflict over Kashmir as you know. I think (it) is a little bit less heated right now than (what) was two weeks ago," Trump told reporters at the White House on Monday, according to a Press Trust of India report.
Trump's comments come two weeks after his meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the G7 summit in France on 26 August, when Modi had politely but firmly turned down Washington's offer of mediation to resolve issues with Pakistan.
"I get along with both countries very well," Trump said while responding to a question on his assessment of the situation between India and Pakistan. "I am willing to help them if they want. They know that. That (offer) is out there."
Tensions between the two neighbours escalated after New Delhi revoked the special status granted to Jammu and Kashmir by scrapping provisions of Article 370 of the Indian Constitution in early August.
It was during a meeting with visiting Pakistani prime minister Imran Khan in July, that Trump had first offered to mediate between the two countries on the issue of Kashmir.
India was quick to reject the offer, saying the Kashmir was a bilateral issue and will be resolve by the two neighbours alone. It had also dismissed Trump's surprising remark that Modi had asked him to mediate on the Kashmir issue.
"Have conveyed.in clear terms that any discussion on Kashmir, if at all warranted, will only be with Pakistan and only bilaterally," Foreign minister S Jaishankar had then said, while rejecting Washington's offer to mediate.
Meanwhile, late last month on the sidelines of G7 summit in France, Trump said he and Modi talked about Kashmir and he feels that both India and Pakistan can resolve the issue.
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