Former U.S. Ambassador to Pakistan Cameron Munter on Monday praised the Trump administration’s use of “quiet diplomacy” amid increased tensions between India and Pakistan over the long-disputed Kashmir region.
“The Trump administration did not do badly because it was quiet,” Munter, who served during the Obama administration, told Hill.TV’s Jamal Simmons and Buck Sexton on “Rising.”
“The way to deal with these kinds of issues is quiet diplomacy, behind-the-scenes diplomacy, and America did engage in that, and I think effectively with other countries, as well,” he continued.
A spokesperson from the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad said on Sunday that the embassy is looking into reports that Pakistan used U.S.-built F-16 jets to shoot down an Indian warplane in the Kashmir region.
The move by Pakistan could be a violation of U.S. agreements, according to Reuters.
Pakistan’s military has denied using F-16 jets in shooting down India’s warplane but did not confirm which planes its military used.
“I think making this a very public issue is only going to make both sides get overly excited and the public overly excited on this issue,” he said.
“Imran Khan, the leader of Pakistan, has given an opening to the Indians if America can be supportive of that opening. I think it’s not a bad idea. I think one has to be sensitive of the electoral issues that [Indian Prime Minister Narendra] Modi, who is up for election in another month, is facing,” Munter said.
“America has to be disciplined, and I think quiet, and can play a very good role in the background,” he said.
— Julia Manchester
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