Despite President Barack Obama’s interest in the Kashmir issue, his administration was dissuaded from appointing a special envoy to Kashmir by the Indian Government and he decided not to get involved in the dispute beyond putting pressure on India and Pakistan to enter direct negotiations. The Obama Administration likewise refused to mediate between the two inimical neighbours on the matter of water sharing, despite Pakistan’s entreaties and asked Islamabad to stop supporting terrorism. The US authorities cracked down on some Kashmiri separatists operating on US soil although some Congressmen were actively involved in supporting them. Subsequently the Obama Administration kept a hands-off policy on Kashmir and supported India’s surgical strike on terrorist camps on Pakistan’s soil.
