PM Narendra Modi did not ask Trump to mediate in Kashmir issue
New Delhi : The foreign ministry has rejected Donald Trump's claims that PM Narendra Modi has asked him to mediate in Kashmir issue. Mr. President who hosted Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan in the US said, "If I can help, I would love to be a mediator".
"I was with Prime Minister Modi two weeks ago and we talked about this subject and he actually said 'Would you like to be a mediator or arbitrator', I said 'Where', He said 'Kashmir'. Because this has been going on for many, many years... I think they would like to see it resolved and you (Imran Khan) would like to see it resolved. If I can help, I would love to be a mediator," President Trump said at the joint press briefing with Imran Khan.
The "prayers of over a billion people will be with you if you can mediate and resolve the situation," Imran Khan responded.
In a series of tweets, foreign ministry cleared that no such request has ever been made to America.
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
— Anurag Srivastava (@MEAIndia) July 22, 2019
...that all outstanding issues with Pakistan are discussed only bilaterally. Any engagement with Pakistan would require an end to cross border terrorism. The Shimla Agreement & the Lahore Declaration provide the basis to resolve all issues between India & Pakistan bilaterally.2/2
— Anurag Srivastava (@MEAIndia) July 22, 2019
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Donald Trump had met each other on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Osaka, Japan. Pakistan PM Imran Khan was also present at the event but there were no bilateral meeting between PM Modi and PM Khan.
India has been against any third-party mediation in Kashmir, though it has been repeatedly sought by Pakistan in various international forums, including the United Nations.
