India denies Modi asked Trump to mediate Kashmir issue

Trump says Modi requested him to mediate between nuclear-armed neighbours

India's foreign ministry on Monday denied US President Donald Trump had been asked by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to mediate the Kashmir conflict with Pakistan.

Trump made the claim while speaking from the Oval Office where he hosted Prime Minister Imran Khan.

"We have seen [Donald Trump's] remarks to the press that he is ready to mediate, if requested by India and Pakistan, on Kashmir issue. No such request has been made by Narendra Modi to US President," said India's Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar.

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

— Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) July 22, 2019

"It has been India's consistent position that all outstanding issues with Pakistan are discussed only bilaterally."

...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

— Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) July 22, 2019

Trump said he could also help mend the strained ties between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.

"I was with 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," Trump said.

The US president met Modi on the sidelines of the the G20 Summit in Osaka, Japan last month.

The "prayers of over a billion people will be with you if you can mediate and resolve the situation," PM Imran responded.

New Delhi has demonstrated its belligerence on the Kashmir issue and has been against any third-party mediation.

Islamabad, however, has repeatedly sought this at various international forums, including the United Nations.

India has also refused to initiate dialogue with Pakistan despite repeated appeals from PM Imran.

#Kashmir soon became one of the top trends on social media with Indians denying that Modi would ever made such a request to Trump.

I honestly don't think Trump has the slightest idea of what he's talking about. He has either not been briefed or not understood what Modi was saying or what India's position is on 3rd-party mediation. That said, MEA should clarify that Delhi has never sought his intercession. https://t.co/DxRpNu6vw2

— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) July 22, 2019