Trump's Kashmir Gaffe

During the visit of Pakistani Prime Minister, Imran Khan, to the US, President Donald Trump unexpectedly, and rather dramatically, offered to “mediate or arbitrate” the Kashmir dispute which led to screeching headlines and political upheaval in India.

The Indian response made it clear that the US President was lying on this issue. This was followed by the Minister for External Affairs S. Jaishankar’s remarks in the Rajya Sabha in which he reaffirmed that no such request has been made by the PM. And, in response to a formal protest from New Delhi, the US State Department also tried to do some damage control by underlining that the Kashmir dispute was a “bilateral” issue between India and Pakistan and that the US “welcomes” the two countries “sitting down” for talks. It added that Pakistan taking “sustained and irreversible” steps against terrorism is key to a successful dialogue with India.

Is this Gaffe or Calculative move?

• If we will look for the international scenario, then we will find that US West Asia policy to counter Iran did not give result as per US expectation. So, Pakistan can play a key role in this situation by providing access to Gwadar port.
• The US also wants to evacuate the army from the war-torn Afghanistan and Pakistan is an important route for this evacuation process. So, there is a possibility to use Pakistan for an escape route from Afghanistan.
• India is buying S-400 anti-defense missile system from Russia, and the US is putting pressure over India to end this deal. So, it can be a tactic for putting pressure over India.
• Till now, India did not end the import of oil from Iran despite the US warning. Eventually, it undermines the US economic blocked policy to Iran.
• Trade is also a considerable flashpoint because India did not reduce tariffs on US product.

How will India deal with the US?

• The government should pursue the issue through diplomatic channels with the U.S. government, and determine whether Mr. Trump made the comments out of confusion or deliberately.
• India has always opposed any suggestion of third-party mediation on Jammu and Kashmir; both the 1972 Shimla Agreement and the 1999 Lahore declaration included India’s and Pakistan’s commitment to resolving issues between them.
• India can following look west policy and continue the healthy relation with Iran and improve trade relations.
  • For New Delhi, this is the time to accept that Mr. Trump’s comments are a sign of new realities in international diplomacy.
  • India should follow the balance approach to deal at international fora, and should continue the deal of S-400 which may put pressure over US.