India rejects Trump claims that PM Modi wanted him to mediate : The Tribune India

Join Whatsapp Channel

India rejects Trump claims that PM Modi wanted him to mediate

NEW DELHI: Hours after US President Donald Trump kicked up a political storm by claiming that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had asked him to mediate on Kashmir, the Indian government rejected the claims stating `It was India’s consistent position that all outstanding issues with Pakistan were discussed bilaterally’.

India rejects Trump claims that PM Modi wanted him to mediate

Pakistani PM Imran Khan (L) speaks during a meeting with US President Donald Trump at the White House in Washington, DC, on July 22, 2019. AFP



Sandeep Dikshit

Tribune News Service

New Delhli, July 22

Hours after US President Donald Trump kicked up a political storm by claiming that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had asked him to mediate on Kashmir, the Indian government rejected the claims stating `It was India’s consistent position that all outstanding issues with Pakistan were discussed bilaterally’.

Trump made the comments while interacting with the press along with visiting Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan at the White House. Praising Pakistan as “smart, tough and great” and hoping it “will be a great help” in bringing peace in Afghanistan, Trump dropped a bombshell when he said PM Modi had sought his help on the disputed Kashmir region and that he would love to be a mediator.

Trump’s statement goes against India’s decade-old policy of not seeking third-party mediation on Kashmir. While Kashmiri separatists led by Syed Ali Shah Geelani welcomed his statement, Opposition leaders RS Surjewala (Cong), former J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and CPI (M) general secretary sought a clarification from the government. 

As India had never accepted mediation on Kashmir, “to ask a foreign power to mediate in J-K by PM Modi is a sacrilegious betrayal of the country’s interests,” Surjewala tweeted. Former MoS External Affairs and MP Shashi Tharoor said he didn’t think Trump knew what he was talking about. Sitaram Yechury, CPM, asked the “twitter-friendly” PM to rebut the US President. 

The Indian government, however, denied that any such request has been made. ``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 and Lahore Declaration provide the basis to resolve all issues,’’ said the MEA spokesman, Ravish Kumar.

India’s reaction thus not only rejects Trump’s offer to mediate but also closes the door on talks with Pakistan unless and until it decisively turns off the tap on cross border terrorism.

Top News

Chief Judicial Magistrate's court in UP's Banda orders judicial inquiry into death of gangster-politician Mukhtar Ansari

UP court orders judicial probe into gangster-politician Mukhtar Ansari’s death

Ghazipur MP Afzal Ansari on Tuesday alleged that his brother...

‘Heart attack or poisoning’: The life and times of Mukhtar Ansari—crime and politics

‘Heart attack or poisoning’: The life and times of Mukhtar Ansari—crime and politics

Eastern parts of Uttar Pradesh are among the poorest regions...

Alka Rai, widow BJP MLA killed by Mukhtar Ansari, says 'justice has been served', visits Ram Mandir

Alka Rai, widow BJP MLA killed by Mukhtar Ansari, says 'justice has been served', visits Ram Mandir

Alka Rai is the wife of MLA Krishanand Rai, who was shot dea...

Cash-strapped Congress gets fresh IT notice of Rs 1,700 crore, say party insiders

Cash-strapped Congress gets fresh I-T notice of Rs 1,800 crore

Ajay Maken addresses a press conference

CBI files chargesheet against 20 institutes, 105 individuals in Himachal Pradesh multi-crore scholarship scam

CBI files chargesheet against 20 institutes, 105 individuals in Himachal Pradesh multi-crore scholarship scam

22 educational institutions were on CBI radar in the scholar...


Cities

View All