India denies Modi asked Trump to mediate Kashmir dispute

India yesterday denied that Prime Minister Narendra Modi asked US President Donald Trump to mediate the decades-long Kashmir conflict with Pakistan, emphasising that third-party involvement is unnecessary. Mr Trump made the claim on Monday while speaking from the Oval Office where he hosted Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan. The President said that during a meeting two weeks ago Mr Modi had asked, “’Would you like to be a mediator, or arbitrator?’” on Kashmir.

Mr Raveesh Kumar, India’s foreign ministry spokesperson, responded: “We have seen President Trump’s remarks to the press that he is ready to mediate, if requested by India and Pakistan, on the Kashmir issue. No such request has been made by Prime Minister to the US President.”

Mr Kumar 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.”

India and Pakistan divided Muslim-majority Kashmir after their independence in 1947, but both claim it in its entirety.

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“I honestly don’t think Trump has the slightest idea of what he’s talking about,” Mr Shashi Tharoor, a senior politician from India’s main opposition Congress party, said on Twitter.

“He has either not been briefed or not understood what Modi was saying or what India’s position is on 3rd-party mediation.”

Mr Trump said he “was surprised at how long” the Kashmir conflict has festered.

“If I can help, I would love to be a mediator,” said the President, who prides himself on being a dealmaker.