Trump on Kashmir – India, Pakistan are nuclear countries, they’ve gotta to work it out

Acknowledging the dangers of Kashmir conflict between nuclear armed Pakistan and India, President Trump has told both countries that they have to work out a resolution to the crisis that began with New Delhi’s August 5 annexation and unprecedent clampdown on the disputed territory.

Trump, who discussed the contentious Kashmir issue prime ministers Narendra Modi and Imran Khan during separate meetings on the margisn of the 74^th UN General Assembly session, also cited his offer of mediation.

“I said, ‘Fellas, work it out. Just work it out,” Trump said at a news conference at his hotel on Wednesday, as human rights organizations and world media continued to report massive violations of human rights in Kashmir valley, where people have been under siege under one of the largest military concentrations.

Trump described his conversations with the two South Asian leaders “very productive conversations.”

“With respect to Pakistan and India, we talked about Kashmir. Whatever help I can be, I said, I offered, whether it’s arbitration or mediation or whatever it has to be.

“You look at the two gentlemen heading those two countries, two good friends of mine. I said, fellows work it out, just work it out. Those are two nuclear countries, they’ve gotta work it out,” he added.

Khan and Modi are due to address the UNGA on Friday. Modi, whose BJP ruling party follows exclusionary Hindutva ideology, will face protests outside the UN Headquarters in New York as thousands of Kashmiri-Americans, Indians and Pakistanis plan to assemble there.

Meanwhile, in a latest report, Indian human rights activists reported Wednesday that Indian security forces picked up around 13000 boys from Kashmir during a huge crackdown as the region remains in military lockdown with a communication blockade.

New Delhi has also stifled political dissent to its move with arrest of all leading Kashmiri leaders including three former chief ministers, who in the past preferred to be part of India.

Pakistan and India partly control Jammu and Kashmir, while China also has a dispute with India over Ladakh part of Kashmir.