Trump stresses need to reduce India-Pakistan tension in phone calls to PM Imran, Modi

Published
193
US President Trump, Prime Minister Imran Khan and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.— File Photo courtesy of Herald
US President Trump, Prime Minister Imran Khan and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.— File Photo courtesy of Herald

United States President Donald Trump on Monday spoke with Prime Minister Imran Khan and Indian premier Narendra Modi, urging a reduction of tension between India and Pakistan over the Kashmir issue.

In a post shared on Twitter early on Tuesday morning, Trump said he had spoken to his "two good friends" — Prime Minister Imran and Prime Minister Modi — regarding "trade, strategic partnerships, and most importantly, for India and Pakistan to work towards reducing tensions in Kashmir".

"A tough situation, but good conversations!" he added.

In a statement regarding Trump's call with Modi, White House spokesperson Hoga Gidley on Monday had said: "The US president conveyed the importance of reducing tensions between India and Pakistan and maintaining peace in the region.”

Read more: Trump, Modi and Imran a love triangle do not make

"The two leaders [Trump and Modi] further discussed how they will continue to strengthen US-India economic ties through increased trade, and they look forward to meeting again soon."

Following Modi's phone call with Trump, a post shared on Twitter by the Office of the Prime Minister of India said: "In the context of the regional situation, PM @narendramodi stated that extreme rhetoric and incitement to anti-India violence by certain leaders in the region was not conducive to peace."

Later on Monday, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said at a press conference that US President Trump made a call to Prime Minister Imran Khan today after his talk with Modi and discussed the prevailing situation in occupied Kashmir.

Qureshi, in a press briefing in Islamabad on Monday, said Trump called Modi after his talk with Prime Minister Imran on Aug 16, in which the premier had taken the US leader into confidence prior to the United Nations Security Council meeting on occupied Kashmir.

Trump in the call on Monday expressed desire in lowering tensions between Pakistan and India, said Qureshi.

"Prime Minister Khan told Trump that a curfew has been in place across Indian-occupied Kashmir for the last 15 days. The prime minister had said that as per our information, thousands of Kashmiris including [the local] leadership had been detained and several of them had also been sent out of Indian-occupied Kashmir," he said while talking about the latest discussion between the two leaders.

According to the foreign minister, the premier had told Trump that as per his viewpoint, the situation in occupied Kashmir merited visits of observers from human rights organisations.

He quoted the prime minister as saying that India should uphold international law and its commitments to the international community.

"We are foreseeing a humanitarian crisis [in occupied Kashmir] in the making," he said, adding that the curfew in the region should be lifted and restrictions ended.

Opinion

Editorial

Kashmir unresolved
Updated 30 Sep, 2026

Kashmir unresolved

The just solution lies in India addressing the issue through a trilateral dialogue involving the legitimate representatives of the Kashmiri people and Pakistan.
Water shortage
30 Sep, 2026

Water shortage

THAT the country is entering the Rabi season with an anticipated water shortage of nearly 25pc, the lowest carryover...
Young hearts
30 Sep, 2026

Young hearts

THE observance may have passed, but the message of World Heart Day should not fade with it. The occasion is a useful...
Terror and politics
Updated 29 Sep, 2026

Terror and politics

There is an urgent need to tone down the rhetoric and tackle terrorism as a collective challenge for both the affected provinces and the federation.
Watching the glaciers
29 Sep, 2026

Watching the glaciers

THE latest signs from Pakistan’s mountains are worrying. Suparco says the number of unfrozen glacial lakes it...
Dangerous agenda
29 Sep, 2026

Dangerous agenda

AS the world remains fixated on the US-Iran conflict, elsewhere in the Middle East, Israel is consolidating its grip...