SRINAGAR: USPresident Donald Trump said yesterday he had no need to help mediate betweenPakistan and India over tensions in disputed Kashmir because Prime MinisterNarendra Modi feels he has it "under control". On August 5 Modi'sHindu-nationalist government revoked the autonomy of the Muslim-majorityterritory where tens of thousands of people have been killed in an uprisingagainst Indian rule since 1989, most of them civilians.
Earlier this month,Trump said he was ready to step in, but at a meeting with Modi at the G7 inFrance, Trump said "the prime minister really feels he has it undercontrol". Trump added he and Modi spoke about Kashmir "at greatlength" on Sunday. New Delhi's contentious decision angered Pakistan,which has fought two wars with India over the region, and Prime Minister ImranKhan said yesterday he would continue fighting for the rights of Kashmiris.
Khan said heplanned to embark on a diplomatic tour soon to raise the issue in internationalforums including the UN General Assembly in September. "I will tour theworld and tell them what is happening... the Modi government is pursuing apolicy which brought havoc globally in the past," Khan said in a televisedbroadcast. "Many Muslim governments, which are not openly supporting usdue to their business interests, will sooner or later support our position...It is imperative that we should stand by Kashmiris. We should give a message toKashmiris that we are with them."
Truck driverkilled
The Trump-Moditalks came as police said stone-throwing protesters in Kashmir killed a driverof what they thought was a military truck, amid a crippling security lockdownimposed just hours before the autonomy announcement. New Delhi sentreinforcements to the estimated half-a-million troops already stationed inKashmir, cut phone lines and the internet, placed severe restrictions onmovement and arrested thousands, according to multiple sources.
The turning ofthe former Himalayan kingdom of seven million people into a fortress ofbarricades and barbed wire has not prevented protests and clashes with securityforces taking place however. In the latest demonstration on Sunday in Anantnagdistrict protestors hurled stones at a truck that they believed to be amilitary vehicle. The 42-year-old driver was struck on the head and died,police said.
The Press Trustof India news agency said two men had been arrested over the incident. Indiasays no civilian has died from police action since August 5. But residents havesaid three people have been killed, including a young mother who choked afterpolice fired tear-gas canisters into her home. Multiple hospital sources havetold AFP at least 100 people had been hurt during the lockdown, some withfirearm injuries.
Authorities saythey have been easing restrictions gradually but a delegation led by keyopposition figure Rahul Gandhi was turned away at Srinagar airport on Saturdayafter flying in from New Delhi to assess the situation. Regional police chiefDilbagh Singh told AFP Gandhi was turned back because in a situation"getting to normalcy" they wanted to avoid any "controversialstatement". Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik on Sunday defendedthe restrictions, echoing the government which says the curbs are meant tomaintain peace in the disputed region also claimed by arch-rival Pakistan.
Trump offer
Ahead of hislatest remarks, Trump last Tuesday after phone calls with both Modi and Khanoffered to mediate in what he called an "explosive" situation inKashmir. "Kashmir is a very complicated place. You have Hindus and youhave the Muslims and I wouldn't say they get along so great," Trump toldreporters at the White House. "I will do the best I can to mediate,"he added. India has insisted Kashmir is purely an internal matter and that itdoes not want outside mediation. "Any discussion on Kashmir, if at allwarranted, will only be with Pakistan and only bilaterally," ForeignMinister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar was quoted as saying on Friday. - AFP