The Unites States on Thursday said India’s decision on Article 370 for the state of Jammu and Kashmir is an internal matter but has regional implications and President Donald Trump expects to hear from Prime Minister Narendra Modi when they meet on the margins of the upcoming G-7 meetings what he plans to do to reduce regional tensions and uphold human rights in the state.
A senior White House administration official who briefed reporters on US President Trump’s agenda for the summit starting Saturday also dialled down Trump’s offer to “mediate” the Kashmir dispute to say it was readiness to “assist” in receding tensions if, and only if, both sides so desired, and made clear India never “requested formal mediation” as had been indicated by the American leader.
The US president is also calling for Pakistan to prevent cross-border infiltration across the LoC and stop groups bases on its soil that have attacked India in the past.
Prime Minister Modi and President will be among a host of world leaders gathering this weekend in Biarritz, a popular French seaside resort, to take stock of the world economy that appears to be teetering on the edge of recession, the digital economy, gender equality, climate change and other issues of global concern. Trump is scheduled to hold bilateral meetings with Modi, UK’s Boris Johnson, Germany’s Angela Merkel, France’s Emmanuel Macron, and Japan’s Shinzo Abe.
