‘Trump card’ over mediation on Kashmir fails as India denies US prez’s claim

Srinagar: The statement of US president Donald Trump wherein he stated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had asked him to mediate on the Kashmir issue has pricked the balloon of dialogue over the resolution of Kashmir issue with mainstream as well as the pro-freedom leaders reacting over Trump’s mediation offer.
However, the Government of India denied Trump’s claim and said that no such request was made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. National Conference president and Member of Parliament Dr Farooq Abdullah congratulated Prime Minister Narendra Modi for seeking intervention of United States President Donald Trump in solving the protracted issue of Jammu and Kashmir and asked world powers to make Kashmir a zone of peace and not the zone of conflict.
Party president while applauding the efforts of Prime Minister Modi for showing courage in resolving the long pending issue of J&K said, “It is indeed a welcome step to see the prime Minister make sincere efforts to solve the issue that has been lingering around for more than seven decades,” adding, “Any mediation in conflict resolution is not a new approach; it is one of the traditional means of diplomacy that affords the two conflict ridden countries reach to a suitable solution.”
Welcoming any move which is aimed to bring long-lasting peace and stability to the sub-continent, Dr Farooq said, “It is high time for India and Pakistan to shun hostilities because at the end its people of our state who face the direct brunt of such hostilities. It’s our people who come in the line of fire whenever there is friction between India and Pakistan and therefore continue to remain mired within the strained Indo-Pak relationship.
The issue of Kashmir in fact led to multiples wars between the two countries and escalated tensions from time to time. The people of the state want an end to all rounds of violence and fresh round of political maneuvers that would satisfy the aspirations of the people of the state besides affording a win-win situation for both India and Pakistan,” adding, “So many conflicts would be resolved if leaders consider the humane aspects of it, it is high time for both the neighboring countries to solve the issue that has devoured many precious lives.
The development prospects of the sub-continent too have remained hostage to the animosity between the two neighbors.” Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) President Mehbooba Mufti in a tweet said that Donald trump’s disclosure marks a huge policy shift.
“Despite GOI refuting idea of third party mediation on J&K, the disclosure made by Trump marks a huge policy shift. Even though USA doesn’t hold a great record in resolving protracted conflicts, hope both countries seize this opportunity to forge peace through dialogue,” Mehbooba said in a tweet.
Hurriyat Conference (M) emphasized that issue of Kashmir is a political and humanitarian concern , lingering for the past seven decades and needs to be resolved keeping both these concerns in view urgently.
On the statement of mediation between India and Pakistan on Kashmir issue by US President Donald Trump, Hurriyat (M) in a statement issued on Tuesday said that people of Kashmir being the most affected party in the conflict have always strongly advocated resolution through dialogue at all levels and among India and Pakistan and every effort and push in that direction is welcome.
“India and Pakistan are two responsible nuclear powers and should they decide, both India and Pakistan can get back to the table and a process can start where the concerns of all sides can be considered and addressed and steps initiated towards resolving the long pending Kashmir dispute,” the statement said, adding that it will put to end decades-long political uncertainty, perpetual strife and endless pain and miseries for the people of this ill-fated region and resources of both the countries can be put to use for the development of its people rather than to help the arms industry of others.
Jammu Kashmir Democratic Freedom Party (JKDFP) welcomed the mediation offer of US President Donald Trump on Kashmir. The JKDFP as per a statement issued on Tuesday stressed upon New Delhi to accept the offer of Trump so that the decades old Kashmir issue is resolved once for all.
It is the same issue which has led to the unending bloodshed in Kashmir and instability in the whole south Asian region. “So it is a golden opportunity for New Delhi to exhibit its maturity and get the Kashmir resolved through US mediation,” JKDFP Spokesperson said.
He said New Delhi has jailed leaders like Shabir Shah but it has not succeeded in shutting the eyes and ears of the world which is evident by the statement of President Trump on Kashmir.
Terming the statement of President Donald Trump as heartening breakthrough and a welcome step, JKLF spokesman said that this statement is a reflection of the reality of Jammu Kashmir being a conflict zone that deserves an early resolution.
Rafiq Dar in a statement issued on Tuesday said that despite every tactics and tyrannical approach, India has failed to undo this internationally recognised and unresolved issue and once again it has been proved beyond doubt that it is only the peaceful resolution of this vexed problem that can ensure a lasting peace, stability and development of the whole South Asian region.
He said that JKLF has of long been seeking a peaceful resolution of this political and human issue that is jeopardizing the prosperity of billions living in this region.