US President Donald Trump on Monday stunned India by offering to mediate in the Kashmir issue while claiming that PM Narendra Modi had sought his help in the matter.

“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,” Trump said at the joint press briefing with Imran Khan.

MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar denied the claim with a post on social media site Twitter. “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.” The “prayers of over a billion people will be with you if you can mediate and resolve the situation,” Khan responded.

Source:  The Economic Times

BDST: 1113 HRS, JULY 23, 2019

AH