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Trump calls PM Modi 'father of India', says 'we'll have trade deal very soon'

Both the leaders met on the sidelines of the UNGA

President Donald Trump meets with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the United Nations General Assembly, in New York | AP

In a statement that might not go down well with many from the opposition parties back home, US President Donald Trump on Tuesday called Prime Minister Narendra Modi the 'father of India'. Trump's comment came during a joint media interaction after the meeting of the two leaders on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly.

"I think we can call him (Modi) Father of India," Trumps said.

Asked about the Kashmir issue, Trump distanced himself from any mediation between India and Pakistan while calling on both Modi and Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan to work out on a solution for the issue. 

“These two gentlemen (Modi and Khan) will get together and work out something,” said the president. Trump's comment came a day after he met Khan on Monday and offered to mediate on the Kashmir issue.

Tensions between the nuclear-armed neighbours spiked after India abrogated provisions of Article 370 of the Constitution to revoke the special status of Jammu and Kashmir on August 5.

Trade deal

Trump said his country would soon have a trade deal with India to boost economic ties between the two nations. "We are doing very well ... I think very soon we will have a trade deal," he told reporters.

The two countries are negotiating a trade package to iron out issues and promote the two-way commerce. 

The meeting between Modi and Trump comes two days after both leaders were together at the  'Howdy, Modi' mega event in Houston during which they addressed over 50,000 Indian-Americans. 

The two leaders met for the fourth time in as many months. Modi was accompanied by External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, Commerce Minister Piyush Goel and Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale. Secretary of State Michael Pompeo was present in the US delegation.

"PM @narendramodi and @POTUS @realDonaldTrump meet on the sidelines of the @UN session in New York. This comes days after both leaders were together at the #HowdyModi programme in Houston," Prime Minister's Office tweeted.