Donald Trump’s offer of mediation on Kashmir was ‘more than Pakistan’s expectations’, says Shah Mahmood Qureshi

Islamabad: US president Donald Trump’s offer of mediation on Kashmir during Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan’s first visit to Washington was “more than Pakistan’s expectations”, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said. [caption id=“attachment_6139561” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] File image of Pakistan foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi. Reuters[/caption] Talking to a private news channel, Qureshi also said that Imran “made the US realise that Kashmir is a flashpoint”, which requires an early resolution, state-run Radio Pakistan reported. Trump last week offered to be the “mediator” between India and Pakistan on the Kashmir issue during his first meeting with Imran at the White House. India firmly rejected Trump’s offer, saying that New Delhi’s consistent position has been that all outstanding issues with Pakistan are discussed only bilaterally. The offer of mediation by Trump during Imran’s visit to Washington was “more than Pakistan’s expectations,” Qureshi said. He said that India’s “adamant attitude on Kashmir issue can cost it heavily” and claimed that the situation in the Valley is “deteriorating”. He said the US president was informed that Pakistan is a peace loving country and desires peace in the region including with India.