Trump gaffe over 'K', top US lawmakers back India

Hours after Trump's controversial statement on Kashmir, leading Congressmen jumped in defence of India to reiterate the decades old US policy to resolve the disputed issue bilaterally by India and Pakistan.

Hyderabad: Amid the ongoing controversial remark over Kashmir made by the US President Donald Trump, Democrat Brad Sherman on Tuesday apologized to Indian Ambassador Harsha Shringla, calling the president's remark “amateurish and embarrassing”.

In a tweet, Sherman said, “Everyone who knows anything about foreign policy in South Asia knows that India consistently opposes third-party mediation regarding Kashmir. Everyone knows PM Modi would never suggest such a thing. Trump’s statement is amateurish, delusional and embarrassing.”

• Everyone who knows anything about foreign policy in South Asia knows that #India consistently opposes third-party mediation re #Kashmir. Everyone knows PM Modi would never suggest such a thing. Trump’s statement is amateurish and delusional. And embarrassing. 1/2

  — Rep. Brad Sherman (@BradSherman) July 22, 2019 " class="align-text-top noRightClick twitterSection" data="

  Everyone who knows anything about foreign policy in South Asia knows that #India consistently opposes third-party mediation re #Kashmir. Everyone knows PM Modi would never suggest such a thing. Trump’s statement is amateurish and delusional. And embarrassing. 1/2

  — Rep. Brad Sherman (@BradSherman) July 22, 2019

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  Everyone who knows anything about foreign policy in South Asia knows that #India consistently opposes third-party mediation re #Kashmir. Everyone knows PM Modi would never suggest such a thing. Trump’s statement is amateurish and delusional. And embarrassing. 1/2

  — Rep. Brad Sherman (@BradSherman) July 22, 2019

• I just apologized to Indian Ambassador @HarshShringla for Trump’s amateurish and embarrassing mistake. 2/2https://t.co/EjcPaNVM0M

  — Rep. Brad Sherman (@BradSherman) July 22, 2019 " class="align-text-top noRightClick twitterSection" data="

  I just apologized to Indian Ambassador @HarshShringla for Trump’s amateurish and embarrassing mistake. 2/2https://t.co/EjcPaNVM0M

  — Rep. Brad Sherman (@BradSherman) July 22, 2019

  ">

  I just apologized to Indian Ambassador @HarshShringla for Trump’s amateurish and embarrassing mistake. 2/2https://t.co/EjcPaNVM0M

  — Rep. Brad Sherman (@BradSherman) July 22, 2019

During a press brief on Monday with Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan, Trump said that PM Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the G-20 Summit in Osaka had asked him to be a mediator on the Kashmir issue.Seconding Sherman, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Alice Wells tweeted that Kashmir is a bilateral issue for both parties to discuss, the Trump administration welcomes Pakistan and India sitting down and the United States stands ready to assist.The Chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs Eliot L Engel spoke with Indian Ambassador Harsh Vardhan Shringla.Engel reiterated his support for the “longstanding US position on the Kashmir dispute, saying he supported dialogue between India & Pakistan, but the dialogue’s pace & scope can only be determined by India & Pakistan”.

• Chairman @RepEliotEngel today spoke with @HarshShringla. Engel reiterated his support for the longstanding U.S. position on the Kashmir dispute, saying he supported dialogue between India & Pakistan, but the dialogue’s pace & scope can only be determined by India & Pakistan.

  — House Foreign Affairs Committee (@HouseForeign) July 22, 2019 " class="align-text-top noRightClick twitterSection" data="

  Chairman @RepEliotEngel today spoke with @HarshShringla. Engel reiterated his support for the longstanding U.S. position on the Kashmir dispute, saying he supported dialogue between India & Pakistan, but the dialogue’s pace & scope can only be determined by India & Pakistan.

  — House Foreign Affairs Committee (@HouseForeign) July 22, 2019

  ">

  Chairman @RepEliotEngel today spoke with @HarshShringla. Engel reiterated his support for the longstanding U.S. position on the Kashmir dispute, saying he supported dialogue between India & Pakistan, but the dialogue’s pace & scope can only be determined by India & Pakistan.

  — House Foreign Affairs Committee (@HouseForeign) July 22, 2019

Congressman George Holding and Congressman Brad Sherman, who Co-Chair the Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans released a joint statement:“Consistent with decades of US policy, we believe the dispute over Kashmir must be resolved bilaterally by India and Pakistan. The Republic of India is one of America’s closest and most important allies, and we look forward to working with Prime Minister Modi and Indian officials to combat terrorism and extremism throughout the region.” Earlier, MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said, “We have seen POTUS's remarks to the press that he is ready to mediate if requested by India & Pakistan on Kashmir issue. No such request has been made by PM Narendra Modi to US President. It has been India's consistent position.”

• We have seen @POTUS's remarks to the press that he is ready to mediate, if requested by India & Pakistan, on Kashmir issue. No such request has been made by PM @narendramodi to US President. It has been India's consistent position...1/2

  — Raveesh Kumar (@MEAIndia) July 22, 2019 " class="align-text-top noRightClick twitterSection" data="

  We have seen @POTUS's remarks to the press that he is ready to mediate, if requested by India & Pakistan, on Kashmir issue. No such request has been made by PM @narendramodi to US President. It has been India's consistent position...1/2

  — Raveesh Kumar (@MEAIndia) July 22, 2019

  ">

  We have seen @POTUS's remarks to the press that he is ready to mediate, if requested by India & Pakistan, on Kashmir issue. No such request has been made by PM @narendramodi to US President. It has been India's consistent position...1/2

  — Raveesh Kumar (@MEAIndia) July 22, 2019