Trump’s Kashmir offer exceeded expectations: Qureshi

Islamabad: US President Donald Trump’s recent offer to play the role of a mediator on the issue of Kashmir

between Islamabad and New Delhi was more than Pakistan’s expectation, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi has said.

In a television interview, Shah said India’s adamant attitude on Kashmir issue can cost it heavily as the situation in the region is deteriorating.

During a meeting with Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan at the White House on July 22, Trump had said

that he would love to act as a mediator between Pakistan and India on the Kashmir issue and that a request for the same had been made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Shah said that Prime Minister Imran Khan’s visit made the US realise that Kashmir was a flashpoint which requires an early resolution.

Trump’s claim of such a request being made was rejected External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar in Parliament. He had emphasised that all outstanding issues with Pakistan are discussed only bilaterally.