Kashmir on agenda as PM Modi meets Trump on G7 sidelines after his mediation offer

Mangalore Today News Network

New Delhi, Aug 26, 2019 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be meeting US President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the G-7 Summit on Monday, days after the US President repeatedly offered to mediate in the Kashmir dispute, Yahoo reported.

 

Although India has maintained that Kashmir is a bilateral matter and abrogation of Article 370 internal, Trump has time and again proposed to intervene in the issue after repeated appeals by Pakistan. Donald Trump had even claimed that both Imran Khan and PM Modi had asked him for help in solving the Kashmir issue.

Days after Trump’s embarrassing claims, PM Modi will finally be meeting Trump on Monday in France’s Biarritz where world nations are meeting for the G-7 Summit.

Leaders of the Group of Seven nations said on Sunday that they are preparing to help Brazil battle fires burning across the Amazon region and repair the damage even as tens of thousands of soldiers got ready to join the fight against blazes that have caused global alarm.

Reports have said the US President is likely to bring up the Kashmir situation during his meeting with PM Modi while India has time and again said that there is no scope for any third party intervention in the Kashmir matter. Modi and Trump are also expected to discuss tariff on US goods that has been a contentious issue between the two nations.

On Sunday, after reaching France, PM Modi also met United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres and held "fruitful discussions" on multiple topics. Gueterres had earlier expressed concerns over the situation in Kashmir, however, it was not brought up in Sunday’s meeting.

PM Modi also met British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Sunday and discussed ways to strengthen bilateral trade, cooperation, defence matters, investment, security among other things.

PM Modi will be meeting several other world leaders and hold bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the G-7 Summit where he is a special invitee.

The Prime Minister will address sessions on environment, climate, oceans and digital transformation.

Though India is not a member of the G-7 grouping, Modi has been personally invited by the French President Emmanuel Macron.