How international media covered the Imran-Trump meeting

A look at how the Indian and other international outlets covered the event

Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday met US President Donald Trump during his three-day visit to the United States.

The two leaders held detailed discussions with a focus on building a ‘broad-based and enduring partnership’ between Pakistan and the US and strengthening cooperation between the two countries to bring peace, stability and economic prosperity in South Asia.

Leading American daily The New York Times published a headline that read, “Trump Tries Cooling Tensions With Pakistan to Speed Afghan Peace Talks.”

The Times pegged the story with PM Imran and President Trump's Twitter spat from last year.

“President Trump, who on Twitter last year accused Pakistan’s leaders of “nothing but lies & deceit,” welcomed the country’s prime minister to the White House,” the US-based publication read.

SCREENGRAB: THE NEW YORK TIMES

The Times concluded its article about Pakistan helping the US to curtail security issues in Afghanistan, quoting Trump that he might ‘restore some of the funding to Pakistan that he cut off last year.’

“I think Pakistan will save millions of lives in Afghanistan. As of this moment, they are working very hard.” NYT quoted President Trump.

The Wall Street Journal covered the story putting emphasis on Trump offering to mediate the Kashmir conflict between Pakistan and India with a headline that said: “Trump Offers to Mediate Kashmir Conflict, but India Demurs.”

“President Trump offered to help mediate the long-running Kashmir conflict in a White House meeting with Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan,” WSJ reported. “Briefly raising the prospect of a substantial shift in the U.S. role in the conflict before India swiftly rejected it.”

Screen Grab: WSJ

The WSJ also reported India’s version by quoting Raveesh Kumar, spokesman for India’s Ministry of External Affairs. He said Narendra Modi had made "no such request". The publication also embedded Kumar’s tweet in their article which elaborated the ‘denial’.

We have seen @POTUS's remarks to the press that he is ready to mediate, if requested by India & Pakistan, on Kashmir issue. No such request has been made by PM @narendramodi to US President. It has been India's consistent position...1/2

— Raveesh Kumar (@MEAIndia) July 22, 2019

The article, towards the end, stated that the meeting concluded with both leaders agreeing that they are heavily criticised by their media.

“The criticism I have received from my own press is unprecedented.” WSJ quoted PM Imran, with Trump responding that "there’s no way you’re treated worse than I am".

The BBC covered the event by stressing that PM Imran’s visit is to restore the bilateral relations between Pakistan and the US which were strained by the Afghan conflict, with their headline reading, “Imran Khan: Pakistan PM meets Trump in bid to mend ties.”

The news story covered Imran and Trump’s discussion on diplomatic tensions between India and Pakistan and security issues related to Afghanistan.

Screen Grab: BBC

CNN also covered the event on the same line, with their headline that read, “Trump, Pakistani PM talk Taliban, Afghan peace talks at White House.”

“The US has pressed Pakistan to use its leverage over the Taliban to encourage the militant group to reach a peace deal with the US,” CNN reported.

Screen Grab: CNN

The Washington Post pegged their story with Trump saying that he is capable of ending the Afghan conflict “in a week…,” Their headline read, “Trump claims progress in Afghanistan peace talks, says Pakistan is now helping because of him.”

Screen Grab: Washington Post

“I think Pakistan can do a tremendous amount against, with respect to, Afghanistan,” the Post quoted the Q&A session at the White House. “They didn’t do it, and I don’t blame them because they were dealing with the wrong president," maintained Trump.

Another international news outlet India Today pegged their story with India denying President Trump’s claim on mediating on the Kashmir issue and downplayed the security issues due to the Afghan conflict.

Their headline read, “Trump says PM Modi asked him to mediate in Kashmir dispute, India denies claim.”

SCREENGRAB: INDIA TODAY

“Trump told Imran Khan that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had asked him to mediate in the dispute,” India Today reported.

The article centred on various members of Indian Congress and the Ministry of External Affairs denying President Trump’s claim.

The Indian Express covered the event on the same lines. Their headline read, “Trump tells Imran Khan: PM Modi asked me to help with ‘disputed’ Kashmir region.”

SCREENGRAB: THE INDIAN EXPRESS

“It has been India’s consistent position that all outstanding issues with Pakistan are discussed only bilaterally,” the publication quoted one of the minsters.

Hindustan Times and Times Now also pegged their stories by Modi asking Trump to mediate between Pakistan and India on Kashmir issue and denying that such requests were made.

Screen Grab: Times Now

— Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) July 22, 2019

Underscoring the leadership of PM Khan, President Trump said that “a lot of things are happening for the US, and I think a lot of great things are going to be happening for Pakistan too, under your leadership. I really feel that.”