Donald Trump says India-Pakistan tensions 'hot tinderbox', will 'love to mediate'

Trump said if the two countries approach him for help he would love to be an arbitrator.

New Delhi: Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump has described the tensions between India and Pakistan as “Very hot tinderbox” and said that he would love to be a “mediator” if necessary to lower the hostilities.

He said if the two countries approach him for help he will love to be an arbitrator, the Hindustan Times reported. He made the comments during an address to the Indian-American community on Saturday here.

“We will have to be very, very strong with respect to radical Islamic terrorism. It’s a tremendous problem. We have a president that doesn’t want to use the term,” the report quoted Trump as saying.

On being asked what role he would play, he said, “Well, I would love to see Pakistan and India get along, because that’s a very, very hot tinderbox... That would be a very great thing. I hope they can do it.”

“Look at the recent problem that you (India) had and other problems that you have had over the years,” he added.

Trump said, “If it was necessary I would do that. If we could get India and Pakistan getting along, I would be honoured to do that. That would be a tremendous achievement... I think if they wanted me to, I would love to be the mediator or arbitrator.”

However, New Delhi opposes any third-party mediation on Kashmir.

Trump also spoke on the issue of H-1B visa, one of the key concerns of the Indian community. He favoured H-1B, but it has some “big deficiencies” .

“We will look at it very carefully and we are going to be studying it over the next coming months. The program has some very big deficiencies but also has some assets,” he reportedly said.

Asked about his views on India and China, he said, “Well, I am going to be a president that is impartial but I love India.”