India, Pakistan should decide pace, scope of talks on Kashmir: US

“Our position on Kashmir has not changed. The pace, the scope, the character of any discussions on Kashmir is for the two sides to determine. We support any and all positive steps that India and Pakistan can take to forge closer relations,” State Department Spokesperson Elizabeth Trudeau said. 

“We’re aware of the clashes. We remain concerned about the violence and we encourage to all sides to make efforts for finding a peaceful resolution,” Trudeau said at her daily news conference on Monday. The State Department spokesperson, however, did not respond to questions on the remarks by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his Independence Day address on Monday. “I wouldn’t speak on Modi’s comments, that would be for him to speak on,” Trudeau said. 

Prime Minister Modi brought up Pakistani atrocities on people of Balochistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) in his Independence Day speech on Monday. “From the ramparts of the Red Fort, I want to express my gratitude to some people — the people of Balochistan, Gilgit and PoK — for the way they wholeheartedly thanked me, the way they expressed gratitude to me, the way they conveyed their goodwill to me recently,” Modi had said. 

Responding to Modi’s remarks, Pakistan said his references to Balochistan and PoK were an attempt to divert world attention from the ‘grim tragedy’ that has been unfolding in Jammu and Kashmir.