Will do my best to mediate on Kashmir: Donald Trump

Washington: US President U has once again offered to mediate between Pakistan and India over the Kashmir issue. Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office late on Tuesday, Trump said he would do his best "to mediate or do something" regarding the tensions between India and Pakistan over the disputed Himalayan region.

He said he would discuss the Kashmir issue with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the sidelines of the G7 Summit this weekend in France. "I will be with Prime Minister Modi… I'll be with him over the weekend in France. I think, we are helping (resolve the tense) situation (between India and Pakistan)," he said.

Trump had offered to mediate between Pakistan and India on Kashmir during Prime Minister Imran Khan's inaugural visit to the US, however, India had rejected the offer making it clear that there can't be any third-party intervention on the issue. However, Pakistan welcomed it.

"Well, they've been having this — these talks for hundreds of years, even under different names. But this is — but its Kashmir. And Kashmir is a very complicated place. You have the Hindus and you have the Muslims, and I wouldn't say they get along so great. And that's what you have right now," Trump said when asked if the issue between the two nuclear-armed neighbours was solvable.

"You have millions of people that want to be ruled by others and maybe on both sides. And you have two countries that haven't gotten along well for a long time. And, frankly, it's a very explosive situation," he added.

"I spoke to Prime Minister Imran Khan. I spoke with, yesterday, also, Prime Minister Modi. They are both friends of mine. They are great people. They are great people. And they love their countries.

And they're in a very tough situation," Trump continued. He noted that Kashmir was a very tough situation. "And, you know, we're talking about — this has been going on for decades and decades. Shooting. I don't mean shooting like shooting a rifle, I mean like major shooting of howitzers, of — you know, of heavy arms. And it's been going on for a long period of time."