External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had made no request to US President Donald Trump to mediate on the Kashmir issue with Pakistan.
“I would like to categorically assure the House that no such request has been made by Prime Minister Modi,” Jaishankar said in Rajya Sabha amid a massive controversy over the US leader’s claim.
Jaishankar further said it had been the consistent position of India that all outstanding issues with Pakistan could be discussed only bilaterally.
He said any engagement with Pakistan will require an end to cross-border terrorism, adding to it the minister said Simla and Lahore accords provided the basis for resolution of all issues bilaterally.
President Trump on Monday claimed that PM Modi had asked him to play the role of a mediator on Kashmir.
Trump said, he had received a request to do so from PM Modi during a recent meeting with him.
“If I can help, I would love to be a mediator. If I can do anything to help, let me know,” Trump said.
“I was with Prime Minister Modi two weeks ago and we talked about this subject (Kashmir). And he actually said, ‘would you like to be a mediator or?’ I said, ‘where?’ He said ‘Kashmir’,” Trump added.
US Congressman, however, apologised to India’s US envoy for President Trump’s “embarrassing” remarks on Kashmir.
