Up to PM Modi to accept mediation offer on Kashmir: Donald Trump

US President Donald Trump said on Thursday that “it isup to Prime Minister Modi” to accept his offer to intervene in the Kashmirissue — without referring to his earlier claim that Modi had requested him to”mediate” in the matter — something India has outright denied.

To a query by a reporter in the White House if he thinksKashmir is a bilateral issue between India and Pakistan, Trump, ignoring thequestion, said: “Have they accepted the offer or not (to mediate). Well,it is really up to Prime Minister Modi.”

   

“I met with Prime Minister Khan. I think they arefantastic people — Khan and Modi. I would imagine they can get along reallywell. But if they wanted somebody to intervene, or to help them; And I spokewith Pakistan about that, and I spoke frankly to India about that. But thatbeen going, that battle, for a long time. If I can, if they wanted to, I wouldcertainly help them,” he added.

On July 22, while speaking to reporters along with visitingPakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan, Trump claimed that during his meeting withModi in Osaka: “We talked about the subject, (and) he actually said,’Would you like to mediate, mediate or arbitrate?’ I said, ‘Where,?’ (and hesaid) ‘Kashmir’.”

India has denied that Modi made such a request to Trump.

Later the US State Department issued a statement conformingto its earlier stand that Kashmir is a bilateral issue between India andPakistan, and added that the US stands ready to help.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

2 + 13 =