United States Vice President-elect Mike Pence on Sunday said that president-elect Donald Trump can help mediate tension between India and Pakistan over the Kashmir issue using his “extraordinary deal-making skills”, Dawn reported on Tuesday. Pence added that the new US administration intends to be ”fully engaged” with South Asia and with Pakistan and India on various issues.
“I think you’re also going to see an energetic leadership in the world, prepared to engage and to look for ways that he can bring those extraordinary deal-making skills to bear on lessening tensions and solving problems in the world,” IANS quoted him as saying.
Pence added that recently there has been great tension between India and Pakistan, and it has “resulted in violence along the Kashmir region”.
During his conversation with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif last week, Trump is believed to have offered to play the role of a mediator between the two countries to resolve disputes, according to the statement released by Pakistan. The President-elect also called Sharif a “terrific guy” who is “doing some amazing work”.
However, the US’ version of the conversation between the two leaders was different. “President-elect Trump and the Prime Minister of Pakistan Muhammad Nawaz Sharif spoke today and had a productive conversation about how the United States and Pakistan will have a strong working relationship in the future. President-elect Trump also noted that he is looking forward to a lasting and strong personal relationship with Prime Minister Sharif,” Trump’s transition team said.
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