Photo by Gage Skidmore via Wikimedia Commons
Providing a window into forthcoming Donald Trump White House’s foreign policy approach, vice president-elect Mike Pence has indicated that billionaire businessman could use his “extraordinary deal-making skills” to reduce tensions around the world and resolve problems such as the decades-old Kashmir dispute.
Pence’s statement marks the first time after several years that Washington has hinted at its active engagement as an initiative toward addressing Jammu and Kashmir dispute – which experts believes lies at the heart of South Asian tensions.
The vice-president told NBC’s “Meet the Press” news program that the Trump administration intends to be “fully engaged” in South Asia and with India and Pakistan on issues such as Kashmir to promote peace and security.
His remarks last week’s phone conversation with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif amounted to an offer to “be a mediator in deciding Kashmir”.
“I think in president-elect Donald Trump you’ve got someone who, who is prepared to advance America’s interests here at home, to rebuild this economy, to fight for American jobs,” Pence said.
“But 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.”
Commenting on India-Pakistan tensions, that Trump wanted to make sure that both countries “know that when this administration takes office, that we intend to be fully engaged in the region and fully engaged with both nations to advance peace and security”.
Trump, during his candid conversation with PM Sharif, had praised the Pakistani leader as a “terrific guy” and Pakistan as an “amazing” country. Trump also said he was “ready and willing to play any role that you want me to play to address and find solutions to the outstanding problems”.
In the NBC appearance, Pence there had “been great tension between India and Pakistan in recent days. It’s resulted in violence along the Kashmir region.” During his conversations with leaders of India and Pakistan, Trump expressed “a desire for continued US engagement on building the relationship with both of those countries”.
The VP-elect, a seasoneed Republican, said he and Trump were receiving “presidential daily briefs” and formal briefings on national security.
“And, and I know the president-elect has been briefed as he’s been making these calls,” he added.
Since his November 8 election victory over Hillary Clinton, Trump has spoken to more than 50 leaders around the world and these were “courtesy conversations”, Pence said, adding they were “part and parcel of beginning the kinds of relationships that will allow our new president to advance America’s interests in the world.”
The following is a transcript of the questions and answers related to India and Pakistan:
QUESTION: So let me jump to Pakistan. The Pakistan prime minister on Thursday, here is the headline in the front page of the international news in Karachi, “Trump says ready to play role in resolution of issues.” So let me ask you, is he offering to mediate border disputes? I guess Pakistan wanted to imply that, that he was offering to mediate border disputes between Pakistan and India. Is that what he was trying to say?
VICE PRESIDENT-ELECT MIKE PENCE: Well, clearly there’s been great tension between India and Pakistan in recent days. It’s resulted in violence along the Kashmir region. And I think what the President-elect expressed in conversations with leaders from both countries was a desire for continued U.S. engagement on building the relationship with both of those countries. These are two nuclear powers–
VICE PRESIDENT-ELECT MIKE PENCE:
-the President-elect recognizes that. And making sure that, that they know that when this administration takes office, that we intend to be fully engaged in the region and fully engaged with both nations to advance peace and security.”
QUESTION: To be a mediator in deciding Kashmir?
VICE PRESIDENT-ELECT MIKE PENCE: Well, I think, I think, I think in President-elect Donald Trump you’ve got someone who, who is prepared to advance America’s interests here at home, to rebuild this economy, to fight for American jobs. But 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.
