India refutes US President Donald Trump, says never sought mediation on Kashmir

US President Trump, who met Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan at the White House on Monday, had said that PM Narendra Modi had asked him to mediate in Kashmir issue.

NEW DELHI: Foreign Ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar on Monday rejected US President Donald Trump's claim that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has sought his mediation to resolve Kashmir issue. President Trump, who met Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan at the White House on Monday, 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 the Pakistani prime minister.

Imran responded by saying that the prayers of over a billion people will be with the US president if he can mediate and resolve Kashmir issue. The Foreign Ministry, however, strongy denied the claim and asserted that "no such request has been made" by PM Modi.

The Foreign Ministry said that India has repeatedly maintained that all outstanding issues with Pakistan are discussed only between the countries. He added that Pakistan must end cross border terrorism if it wants to engage in talks with India. "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 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," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said in a series of tweets.

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 — Raveesh Kumar (@MEAIndia) July 22, 2019

US Congressman Brad Sherman reacted on Trump's claim and said that everyone who is aware of South Asia's foreign policy knows that India has always opposed the mediation by any third-party in Kashmir. "Everyone who knows anything about foreign policy in South Asia knows that India consistently opposes third-party mediation in Kashmir," Sherman tweeted.

Brad Sherman,US Congressman tweets on US President Trump’s claim that PM Modi asked Trump to mediate on Kashmir: Everyone who knows anything about foreign policy in South Asia knows that India consistently opposes third-party mediation in Kashmir. pic.twitter.com/tPWBULGP5j — ANI (@ANI) July 22, 2019

Sherman remarked that everyone knows that Indian prime minister would sever seek anyone's mediation to resolve Kashmir issue. The US Congressman said that the statement made by Trump is amateurish, delusional and embarrassing.

Meanwhile, Acting Assistant Secretary Alice Wells said that though Kashmir is a bilateral issue for both India and Pakistan to discuss, the Trump administration welcomes the two sides to sit down and the US is willing to assist them.