‘Huge policy shift’: Mainstream parties on Trump’s offer of mediation on K-issue
Srinagar: The mainstream political parties in Kashmir on Tuesday termed the US President Donald Trump’s offer to mediate on Kashmir issue a positive step saying the statement marked a “huge policy shift”.
The US President on Monday said that PM Modi had asked him to mediate on Kashmir issue and he was willing to do so.
Government of India on Tuesday however denied Modi having made such a request.
Former chief minister and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president, Mehbooba Mufti said that the statement made by Trump “marks a huge policy shift”.
“Despite GOI refuting idea of third party mediation on J&K, the disclosure made by Trump marks a huge policy shift. Even though USA doesn’t hold a great record in resolving protracted conflicts, hope both countries seize this opportunity to forge peace through dialogue,” Mehbooba said.
National Conference (NC) General Secretary Ali Muhammad Sagar said that any positive step towards the resolution of Kashmir issue was always welcomed. Sagar said that people of Kashmir want a solution to the protracted issue and anyone willing to mediate was welcomed.
“If there is change in attitude of the government then it is good for the resolution of Kashmir issue,” he said adding “We should look at the statement of Trump in positivity”.
People’s Democratic Front (PDF) chairman and former MLA Khansahib Hakeem Muhammad Yaseen said it was “a welcome step if Prime Minister Narendra Modi had sought mediation for Kashmir issue through USA”.
“I believe PM Modi has respected the mandate given by the people to him by asking Trump for mediation on Kashmir issue. Everyone wants the resolution of Kashmir issue. We should not play politics over the issue, but we should unitedly appeal the two countries (India and Pakistan) to seize the opportunity to resolve the long pending issue,” he said.
However, Democratic Party Nationalist (DPN) president and former minister Ghulam Hassan Mir said there was “no relevance of trump’s statement in view of denial by External Affairs Minister” over the matter.
It is worth to mention here that senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad has said that Kashmir was a “bilateral issue and no third party can intervene”.
Speaking to the media Azad said, “Ready to believe our PM, but because we have seen Pakistan PM speak to Donald Trump, we want our PM to come to parliament and say, this is false.”
KV News
