Pakistan PM praises Trump, surprised at Indian reaction

By Islamuddin Sajid

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (AA) - Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan on Tuesday expressed surprise at an Indian reaction to U.S. President Donald Trump's offer of mediation to resolve Kashmir dispute.

Taking to Twitter, the premier, while appreciating Trump for "his understanding of Pakistan's point of view", said generations of Kashmiris have suffered and there was need to end the conflict.

"Surprised by reaction of India to Pres Trump's offer of mediation to bring Pak & India to dialogue table for resolving Kashmir conflict which has held subcontinent hostage for 70 yrs. Generations of Kashmiris have suffered & are suffering daily and need conflict resolution," Khan tweeted.

On Monday at a joint press conference with Khan, Trump expressed his willingness to mediate between India and Pakistan on the issue of Kashmir. He even claimed that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had asked him to mediate, when they met on the sidelines of the G20 meeting in Japanese city of Osaka recently. India, however, has denied the claim.

Jammu and Kashmir, a Muslim-majority Himalayan region, is held by India and Pakistan in parts and claimed by both in full. A small sliver of Kashmir is also held by China.

Since they were partitioned in 1947, the two countries have fought three wars -- in 1948, 1965 and 1971 -- two of them over Kashmir.

Also, in Siachen glacier in northern Kashmir, Indian and Pakistani troops have fought intermittently since 1984. A cease-fire came into effect in 2003.

Some Kashmiri groups in Jammu and Kashmir have been fighting against Indian rule for independence, or for unification with neighboring Pakistan.

According to several human rights organizations, thousands of people have reportedly been killed in the conflict in the region since 1989.