THE outcome of the meeting between President Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra has once again confirmed that the world is not according due consideration and priority to an issue of life and death for over 13 million Kashmiris and poses serious threats to peace and stability of South Asia. While Modi claimed that Kashmir issue would be solved by holding dialogue with Pakistan, President Trump made a U-turn by stating that he had no need to help mediate between Pakistan and India over tension in the IoK as Modi felt he had it ‘under control’.
Their remarks must have sent dismaying signals to Kashmiris as their hopes for peaceful resolution of the conflict are dashing due to one-eyed policies and economy-dominated approach of influential members of the global community, which are closing their eyes to unending grave human rights violations and a just settlement of a dispute that is still on the agenda of the United Nations. This is also borne out by the fact that in the words of President Trump he had discussions at length on Kashmir with Modi but these led to nothing as the leader of the world’s only superpower neither expressed concern over draconian tactics being used by India to suppress voice of Kashmiris nor the need for peaceful resolution of the dispute that has the potential to cause a nuclear war between the two neighbours. Modi’s contention that Kashmir was a bilateral issue between Pakistan and India was unacceptable as never in the history New Delhi showed its seriousness in discussing the Kashmir issue during bilateral talks with Pakistan in a substantive manner. Whenever India felt itself under pressure due to volatile situation in occupied Kashmir and growing realization among the global community for ultimate solution of the problem, New Delhi sought refuge behind the plea that it was a bilateral issue and it would discuss it with Pakistan. But remarks of the US President were all the more regrettable as he observed that he felt no need of mediation as Kashmir was under control of India. This amounts to giving license to the butcher of Muslims to continue with his policy of physical elimination of Kashmiri Muslims and destruction of their properties. The entire world knows the tactics being used by Modi Government to ‘control’ Kashmir and instead of denouncing them, Trump is sanctioning them — what a tragedy!
