External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Friday, 2 August, clarified that he has conveyed to his United States counterpart Mike Pompeo that India’s discussions with Pakistan will only be bilateral.
This comes after US President Donald Trump on Thursday, 1 August, said it was up to India and Pakistan to resolve the Kashmir dispute but he was ready to assist if the two South Asian neighbours wanted him to help in resolving the decades-old issue.
Jaishankar met Secretary of State Pompeo on the sidelines of the second day of 9th East Asia Summit Foreign Ministers meet in Bangkok. This was the first official meeting between the two top officials after President Trump's controversial comments.
“Up to PM Modi”
“It’s really up to Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi (to accept the offer of mediation),” Trump told reporters responding to a question on India not accepting his offer of mediation on Kashmir.
Trump was referring to his last week's meeting with Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan, wherein he offered to help resolve the Kashmir issue. India has rejected the offer, while Pakistan has welcomed his statement.
According to State Department Spokesperson Morgan Ortagus, the two leaders discussed "our shared commitment to upholding the rule of law, freedom of navigation, and democratic values in the Indo-Pacific region."
"The Secretary reaffirmed the positive trajectory of the U.S.-India strategic partnership," Ortagus quoted Pompeo as saying.
There was no mention of the Kashmir issue in her statement.
Trump Seeks Clarification
"Have they accepted the offer or not?", Trump sought a clarification when asked about India's rejection of his mediation offer.
“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.”Donald Trump
He rued that the issue of Kashmir had been going on for a long time.
When asked how would he "want to resolve the Kashmir issue", Trump said, "If I can, if they wanted me to, I would certainly intervene."
Trump Stuns India
Last week, in his joint media appearance with Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan at the Oval Office, Trump stunned India by saying that Prime Minister Modi sought his mediation/arbitration on the Kashmir issue.
Trump had said that the Indian Prime Minister asked for this during their bilateral meeting in Japan in June on the sideline of the G-20 Summit.
India quickly denied it and said the Kashmir issue was never discussed between Modi and Trump.
Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar refuted that Modi ever made that request.
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