Opposition looks to corner Modi on Trump's Kashmir claim

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar's clarification of US president Donald Trump's claim that Prime Minister Narendra Modi asked him to mediate in the Kashmir failed to convince the opposition parties. They have decided to continue with their protests till Modi gives a statement in both the houses of the Parliament.

The Rajya Sabha was adjourned three times, and the opposition, led by the Congress, staged a walkout in both the houses over the issue that Trump's claim was an affront to India's sovereignty and stated position on Kashmir. After Modi government took over last month in his e that the opposition feels it has an issue to put the government on the mat.

The government had gone into fire-fighting mode right after Trump's statement to the media as Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan met him at the White House. "If I can help, I would love to be a mediator. If I can do anything to help, let me know," Trump had said. Two weeks ago, he said, PM Modi had asked him (Trump) if the US president would like to be a mediator. The MEA had denied Trump's claim. Modi and Trump had met in Osaka during the G-20 summit. But, government sources said there was no record that Kashmir was discussed.

As the Parliament met on Tuesday, both the houses erupted in protests over Trump's claim. Opposition MPs demanded that the PM should come to the house to clarify. Jaishankar read out his statement in both the houses amidst din. “The statement of US President Donald Trump that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had asked him to mediate in Kashmir issue: I would like to categorically assure the House that no such request has been made by PM Modi,” the external affairs minister said.

But this failed to convince the opposition members. Even the US state department appeared to be on defensive. “While Kashmir is a bilateral issue for both parties to discuss, the Trump administration welcomes Pakistan and India sitting down and the United States stands ready to assist."

As the issue esclated, BJP general secretary Ram Madhav said, “POTUS’ statement on Kashmir underscores the biggest problem in the US system today. With expert India and South Asia hands like Lisa Curtis in the White House and State Dept, if he makes such a statement then there is something fundamentally wrong.”

The issue of US offer to mediate had come in the past also. The then US president Bill Clinton had offered to intervene in the Kashmir issue before his visit to India in 2000. A year earlier in 1999, it was on Clinton's insistence that then Pakistani PM Nawaz Sharif was forced to withdraw the forces from Kargil to end the war. In subsequent US administrations, officials had obliquely offered to help in the Kashmir imbroglio, but India had insisted that there could be no third party mediation in Kashmir. It was a bilateral issue between India and Pakistan, as agreed in 1972 Shimla Agreement and later in Lahore Declaration.

Reacting to the political row in India, Pakistani PM Imran Khan said, “Surprised by reaction of India to President Trump's offer of mediation to bring Pakistan and India to dialogue table for resolving Kashmir conflict which has held subcontinent hostage for 70 years. Generations of Kashmiris have suffered & are suffering daily and need conflict resolution.”

At the home front, as the government is keen to extend the ongoing parliament session for another 10 days to pass all the legislations, it may have trouble at hand if the opposition escalates the issue. Modi is also scheduled to visit USA in September this year. So, Modi's denial of having told Trump about mediation could have repercussions on the proposed visit if the issue was not handled with diplomatic finesse.