PM Modi made no request to mediate: Jaishankar on Trump's claim

Prime Minister Narendra Modi made no request to US President Donald Trump to mediate on the Kashmir issue with Pakistan, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said in the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday (July 23) amid a massive controversy over the US leader’s claim.

He said that all outstanding issues between India and Pakistan can be discussed only bilaterally. “I would like to categorically state that no such request has been made by the Prime Minister to the US President,” he said after the Congress and other opposition parties raised the issue in the House.

Also read: Trump gets it Left, Right and Centre over Kashmir comment

US President Donald Trump had on Monday (July 22) claimed that Prime Minister Modi had asked him to play the role of a mediator on Kashmir. The external affairs minister said that it has been the consistent position of India that all outstanding issues with Pakistan can be
discussed only bilaterally.

“Any engagement with Pakistan will require an end to cross border terrorism,” he said, adding that the Shimla and Lahore accords provide the basis for resolution of all issues bilaterally. Opposition parties, however, were not satisfied by the statement of the External Affairs Minister and wanted the Prime Minister to come to the House and clarify.

This led to a heated exchange between opposition benches and Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu, who adjourned proceedings till 1200 hours.