Trump stresses need to reduce India-Pakistan 'tensions' in Modi phone call: White House

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump on Monday spoke with India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging a reduction of tensions between India and Pakistan over the disputed Kashmir region.

"The president conveyed the importance of reducing tensions between India and Pakistan and maintaining peace in the region," White House spokesman Hogan Gidley said in a statement.

"The two leaders further discussed how they will continue to strengthen United States-India economic ties through increased trade, and they look forward to meeting again soon."

Trump also talked to Prime Minister Imran Khan, their second conversation in three days on the situation in Kashmir.

"Prime Minister Imran Khan expressed serious concern over a humanitarian crisis triggered in Kashmir and hoped (the) US would play its role in resolving the crisis," Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi told a televised press conference in Islamabad.

"Khan asked President Trump to talk to Indian Prime Minister Modi" about ways to lower tensions between the two countries, Qureshi said.

"We want a UN observer mission to be dispatched forthwith to Indian Held Kashmir" and for the curfew there to be "lifted immediately," he said.