New Delhi: In a stern message seen to be a snub, US President Donald Trump told Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan in a phone conversation to “moderate” his rhetoric against India and “avoid escalation of the situation” in the wake of rising tensions between the two countries on the Kashmir issue. Interestingly, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had told President Trump in a phone call lasting half an hour on Monday evening that “extreme rhetoric and incitement to anti-India violence by certain leaders in the region was not conducive to peace”.
This was an obvious reference to the Pakistan PM’s recent belligerent rhetoric against India. The US President also tweeted on Tuesday that he had spoken to his “two good friends” Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Pakistan PM Imran Khan, asking them to “work towards reducing tensions in Kashmir”. Admitting it was a “tough situation”, the US President sought to put up a brave face, saying he had “good conversations” with both Prime Ministers.
A rattled Pakistan launched a propaganda offensive against India ever since New Delhi bifurcated the state of J&K and revoked Article 370 earlier this month. It may be recalled that Pakistan PM Imran Khan has been engaging in a vitriolic offensive against India, including a bizarre diatribe on Sunday that compared India to Nazi Germany.
