New York: United States President Donald Trump on Tuesday said that he felt Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave the message on terrorism to Pakistan “loud and clear” through the ‘Howdy, Modi!’ event, adding that it would be great if both India and Pakistan can “take care of Kashmir”.
Trump, who a day ago said that he was open to mediate on Kashmir during his bilateral talk with Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan, appeared to backtrack on Tuesday, and sounded cautious on the issue, saying that it would be great if Modi and Imran can sit down and work out the issue.
Trump also said that he hoped a trade deal with India would be on the table soon.
To a question if he had broached the issue of terror with Imran, Trump hedged and said that he “thinks that it will happen”.
“I believe these two great gentlemen will sit down and work it out. I believe in Modi and Khan, and that if they get along, and will get along, great things will happen,” Trump said.
Asked about a message to Pakistan on terror, he said he felt Prime Minister Modi gave a strong message to Pakistan on terror during the ‘Howdy, Modi!’ event in Houston on Sunday. “I think he gave the message loud and clear, it was a pretty loud message,” Trump said.
Modi had called for a definitive move against terror on Sunday and had asked the audience at the NRG Stadium in Houston to give a standing ovation to Trump for his determination to fight terrorism.
“He’s brought India together, we’ll call him the Father of India”, said Trump, referring to Modi and showering praise on the Indian prime minister, adding that he and Modi shared great chemistry.
Trump said: “My personal chemistry with PM Modi is as good as it can get. He is a great gentleman and great leader. I remember India before was very torn, a lot of dissension, a lot of fighting, and he brought it together, like a father would bring it together; and maybe he is the Father of India. We’ll call him the Father of India, if it’s not so bad, but he brought things together, you don’t hear that (dissensions) anymore. I think he’s done a fantastic job.
“And I think how much I like the country of India and how much I like your PM, and there was tremendous spirit in that room too (NRG stadium during ‘Howdy, Modi!’), and they loved this gentleman to my right (pointing to Modi), they really do; the people went crazy. That was like Elvis Presley, he was like an American version of Elvis, like an all-American Elvis came back. It was quite something, and they really loved the PM, and it was a great thing,” Trump said.
Modi, in his turn, referred to President Trump as a close friend of India and said the fact that he took out time to share the stage with him for the ‘Howdy, Modi!’ event in Houston was a matter of great pride for Indian-Americans.
Addressing newspersons ahead of the bilateral meeting with Trump here, Modi said he was very grateful to Trump for attending the Houston event. “He gave a lot of his time, and for the Indian-Americans it is a matter of great pride.”
Modi said that though he has been in office for less than four months, after his re-election, he has had the occasion to meet Trump thrice and discuss matters on several issues.
Modi said the closeness and continuous engagement between the US, the oldest democracy, and India, the largest democracy, conveys an important message for democracy in the world.
“India and America are very close friends, and it is based on shared values,” said Modi, adding that he was happy at the $2.5 billion (Dh9.19 billion) deal inked between Petronet and Tellurian in Houston on Saturday.
He said the deal would lead to a $60 billion trade and 50,000 jobs, “which is a big initiative”. “President Trump is my friend, and a close friend of India. Today India and America are forging ahead,” Modi added.
