Srinagar: Mainstream politicians in the Valley say they were caught off guard by US President Donald Trump’s claims that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had asked him to “mediate” on the Kashmir dispute until the Ministry of External Affairs put out its response that no such request had been made by India.
The leaders, however, insisted that the row over the remarks should not take away from the position that dialogue is the way forward.
“Now that the MEA has issued a clarification, there isn’t much to say but initially we were caught by surprise,” National Conference (NC) spokesperson Imran Dar told ThePrint Tuesday morning.
“Modi asking Donald Trump to intervene would have meant a major shift in India’s foreign policy. Nevertheless, Kashmir is a bilateral issue and must be resolved through talks.”
Former J&K chief minister and senior NC leader Omar Abdullah sent out multiple tweets late Monday night when Trump’s statements, during his meeting with Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan at the White House, set social media into a tizzy and sparked debates on both sides of the border.
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“Is Govt of India going to call @realDonaldTrump a liar or has there been an undeclared shift in India’s position on third party involvement in #Kashmir?” Omar tweeted.
Is Govt of India going to call @realDonaldTrump a liar or has there been an undeclared shift in India’s position on third party involvement in #Kashmir?
— Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) July 22, 2019
Another tweet of his read, “Personally I think @realDonaldTrump is talking out of his hat when he says @PMOIndia asked for US involvement in solving the Kashmir issue but I’d like to see @MEAIndia call Trump out on his claim.”
Personally I think @realDonaldTrump is talking out of his hat when he says @PMOIndia asked for US involvement in solving the Kashmir issue but I’d like to see @MEAIndia call Trump out on his claim. https://t.co/JRlH4mehrp
— Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) July 22, 2019
The MEA was quick to deny the claims made by Trump but by then senior politicians had also weighed in on the debate of the resolution of Kashmir issue through third-party mediation.
‘Dialogue is the way’
Politicians in the Valley raised doubts over Trump’s claims and insisted that the dispute needs to be resolved between India and Pakistan through dialogue.
“We have always maintained that Kashmir needs negotiations. This is an issue between India and Pakistan and they might have different perspectives but there is no other alternative than a dialogue,” senior PDP leader Rafi Mir said. “Previously there were efforts made but Kashmiris were not taken on board, this time around all stakeholders in Kashmir should be looped in.”
The official PDP handle tweeted last night that it welcomed any effort to resolve the issue. “Welcome such a positive development laden with potential to establish permanent peace in the subcontinent,” the tweet said. “Dialogue and Diplomacy not warmongering the only means which can deliver some respite to the people of subcontinent engulfed in raging fires of hatred.”
Welcome such a positive development laden with potential to establish permanent peace in the subcontinent. Dialogue and Diplomacy not warmongering the only means which can deliver some respite to the people of subcontinent engulfed in raging fires of hatred. https://t.co/EXpBiqiwLI
— J&K PDP (@jkpdp) July 22, 2019
Former Kulgam MLA and senior Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader, M.Y. Tarigami, was among the rare voices to take the MEA clarification with a pinch of salt.
“No doubt the MEA has denied the allegations but Prime Minister Modi must explain to the country what has just happened,” Tarigami said. “The US President has made a claim and the least the Prime Minister can do is clarify our position. We can’t just ignore Trump’s statement. Is there a change in India’s foreign policy?”
Tarigami added that though his party welcomed a peaceful dialogue over Kashmir, the intervention of the US would be a damaging proposition. “Look what they have done in Afghanistan or other countries where they have intervened. It is a bilateral issue and must be resolved peacefully,” he said.
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Neither talks nor god can resolve the issue