New Delhi/Washington/Islamabad, Aug 20 (TIWN) Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with US President Donald Trump over phone during which he conveyed that "extreme rhetoric and incitement to anti-India violence by certain leaders in the region was not conducive to peace", in an obvious reference to the Pakistani leadership spewing anti-India venom over the Kashmir issue.

"Spoke to my two good friends, Prime Minister Modi of India, and Prime Minister Khan of Pakistan, regarding Trade, Strategic Partnerships and, most importantly, for India and Pakistan to work towards reducing tensions in Kashmir. A tough situation, but good conversations!" Trump said in a Twitter post.  Relations between Islamabad and New Delhi, already hostile, have been further strained over India's decision this month to revoke the special status of its portion of the Kashmir region that both countries claim. Pakistan reacted with fury, cutting transport and trade links and expelling India's ambassador in retaliation.  Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi told Trump he was hopeful that India's commerce minister and the U.S. trade representative would meet again to discuss bilateral trade, the Indian government said in a statement.  Washington confirmed that Trump and Modi had spoken about trade.