New Delhi: During his meeting with Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday, the US President Donald Trump offered to mediate with Pakistan on the Kashmir issue between the two South Asian neighbours on “Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s request.”
However, India has denied any such request from the Prime Minister with Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Raveesh Kumar saying “all outstanding issues with Pakistan are discussed only bilaterally.”
Former Minister of State for External Affairs and Congress leader Shashi Tharoor backed India’s stance and told ANI, “Trump does not know what he is saying. Maybe he did not understand the issue or nobody briefed him. Impossible that Modi will ask anyone else because it is our clear policy that we do not want third-party mediation. If we have to talk to Pakistan, we will do that directly.”
Backing Tharoor’s view, former External Affairs Minister and Congress leader Natwar Singh also said it was “strange” for trump to make such a statement.