Kashmir statement: US congressman apologises to Indian ambassador for Trump’s ‘amateurish and embarrassing mistake’

Donald Trump and Imran Khan, image courtesy: Gulf Today

Brad Sherman, the representative of the 30th Congressional district in Calfornia has slammed US President Donald Trump’s statement over the Kashmir issue. Rep. Sherman has called Trump’s statement amateurish and delusional.

https://twitter.com/BradSherman/status/1153401420881768448?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Taking to Twitter, Rep. Sherman, a Democrat, stated that everyone who knows anything about foreign policy in South Asia knows that India has been consistently opposing third-party mediation over the Kashmir issue. He added that everyone also knows that India’s PM Modi would never suggest such a thing and Trump’s statement is amateurish, delusional and embarrassing.

Sherman further added that he has spoken to India’s ambassador in the USA Harsh Shringla and has apologised for Trump’s mistake.

US President Donald Trump has stated yesterday that he had spoken to PM Modi about two weeks ago and claimed that PM Modi had asked him to help resolve the Kashmir issue between the two countries. During the joint press conference after talking to Pakistan’s Imran Khan, Trump had claimed that PM Modi had requested him to be a mediator or arbitrator in the Kashmir issue, to which he has agreed.

Trump had made this comment after Imran Khan stated that the US is the most powerful country in the world and he expects it to help resolve the issue between the two neighbours.

India had immediately rejected the claim and had stated that no such request has been made by PM Modi to President Trump. MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar has asserted that India’s stand over the issue has always been clear that all outstanding issues with Pakistan will only be discussed bilaterally.

MEA statement

Trump’s statement has been receiving wide criticism and slamming in the USA from political and media circles.

https://twitter.com/EdwardGLuce/status/1153376857473060864?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Edward Luce, the Financial Times’ US National Editor has stated that Trump’s statement has been deeply provocative to India whose stand on the Kashmir issue has always been clear. He added that India is the USA’a  natural ally in the rivalry against China and it is hard to overstate the stupidity of Trump’s statement.

OpIndia Staff: Staff reporter at OpIndia