Spoke Frankly On Kashmir Earlier, Upto PM Modi To Accept Mediation Offer, Says Trump

United States (US) President Donald Trump has said that it is completely upto Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi to take up his offer for mediation on the Kashmir issue, PTI has reported.

"It's really up to Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi (to accept the offer of mediation)," Trump told reporters on being asked if India had accepted his offer for mediation on the issue.

"I think they are fantastic people – Khan and Modi – I mean. I would imagine they could get along very well, but if they wanted somebody to intervene, to help them…. and I spoke with Pakistan about that and I spoke frankly in (sic) India about it," he added.

Trump had earlier remarked that PM Modi had asked for his help in resolving the Kashmir issue with Pakistan, in a statement that was quickly debunked by the Indian Foreign Ministry.

India’s stand, earlier and at present continues to be that any talks regarding Kashmir are to be held only bilaterally with Pakistan with no scope for any sort of third party mediation.

Indian External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar in a meeting with his US counterpart has again made it clear during his visit to Thailand for the ASEAN summit.