Nepal Foreign Affairs (23 July 2019) – Ministry of External Affairs has denied US President Donald Trump’s claim that Prime Minister Narendra Modi asked him to mediate in Kashmir dispute with Pakistan.
“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,” MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said in alter night tweet on Monday.
He added: “”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.”
The statement was issued in reaction to the US President’s claim that India had sought his help in resolving kashmir issue with Pakistan. Speaking to press after a meeting with Pakistan PM Imran Khan in White House in Washington DC, Trump offered to be the “mediator” between India and Pakistan on the Kashmir issue.
“If I can help, I would love to be a mediator. If I can do anything to help, let me know,” Trump said in response to a question during his meeting with Prime Minister Khan in the Oval Office.
“We have a very good relationship with India. I know that your relationship (with India) is strained a little bit, maybe a lot. But we will be talking about India (it’s) a big part of our conversation today and I think maybe we can help intercede and do whatever we have to do. It’s something that can be brought back together. We will be talking about India and Afghanistan both,” Trump told Khan.
Trump told Imran Khan that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had asked him to mediate in the dispute.