The offer, which comes amidst rising tensions along the Line of Control (LoC), has been rejected by New Delhi, saying it believes bilateral redressal of all India-Pakistan disputes — in an environment free from violence and terror — is the way forward.
Three days after Iran’s offer to mediate between India and Pakistan over the issue of Jammu and Kashmir, the United States has also declared its willingness to play a role in de-escalating tensions between the two neighbours. US Ambassador to UN Nikki Haley said on Monday that Washington must proactively work towards de-escalating India-Pakistan tensions.
The offer, which comes amidst rising tensions along the Line of Control (LoC), has been rejected by New Delhi, saying it believes bilateral redressal of all India-Pakistan disputes — in an environment free from violence and terror — is the way forward.
In a statement on Tuesday evening, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Gopal Baglay made India’s well-known stance on the issue clear, “The government’s position for bilateral redressal of all India-Pakistan issues in an environment free of terror and violence has not changed. We, of course, expect the international community and organisations to enforce international mechanisms and mandates concerning terrorism emanating from Pakistan, which continues to be the single biggest threat to peace and stability in our region and beyond.”
The US offer has come as a surprise to New Delhi, as for the past 17 years, despite appeals from Islamabad, both the Clinton and Obama Administration had consistently rejected any mediating role on the Kashmir issue, insisting on bilateral dialogue between the two nations.
This is why US Ambassador to the United Nations Nicky Haley’s statement to the media has set the corridors of power buzzing in New Delhi. In a question-and-answer session with the press, Haley almost repeated what President Trump had said last November, before assuming office. In an interview, Trump had then said, “If it was necessary, I would do that. If we could get India and Pakistan getting along, I would be honoured to do that.
That would be a tremendous achievement... I think if they wanted me to, I would love to be the mediator or arbitrator.”
Echoing the US President’s sentiments, Haley also said that the Trump administration was concerned about the relationship between India and Pakistan and is eager to see how the US can de-escalate any sort of conflict going forward. She added that she “wouldn’t be surprised if the President participates in that as well”. Such a statement was a clear move from the US’s earlier stance of not engaging in Indo-Pak disputes.
The Ambassador had been asked if the US could make any efforts to get India and Pakistan together for peace talks as tensions between the two countries have risen recently. “We very much think that we should be proactive in the way that we are seeing tensions rise and conflicts start to bubble up and so we want to see if we can be a part of that,” Haley said.
She added that she expects to “find a place” in being a part of de-escalating tensions, stating, “We don’t think we should wait till something happens.”
On a more positive note for India, Haley displayed an aggressive stand on terrorism, making it clear that the US would ensure that sanctions are imposed on terrorists by the United Nations.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "Donald Trump-Narendra Modi")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}