White House reaction on India's denial to Donald Trump's Kashmir mediation claim

The White House on Thursday reacted to India's denial to US President Donald Trump's claim that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had requested him to mediate on the Kashmir issue. Responding to a question about India's denial, White House Counsellor Kellyanne Conway on Thursday said, "We have a very good and growing relationship with (Prime Minister) Mr Modi and the Indian government."

Earlier at a separate State Department press gaggle, spokesperson Morgan Ortagus, when asked if US policy on Kashmir has changed, declined to answer. "Yeah, I don't have anything to say beyond the President's statement," Ortagus said.

On Monday, President Trump stunned India during a joint press conference with visiting Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan by claiming that Prime Minister Modi asked him to mediate on the Kashmir issue during their bilateral meeting on the sidelines of G20 Summit in Osaka, Japan, last month.

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"I was with Prime Minister Modi, 2 weeks ago and we talked about this subject and he actually said would you like to be a mediator or arbitrator. I said where? He said Kashmir. Because this has been going on for many many years...They (India) would like to see it resolved, you (Imran Khan) would like to see it resolved. If could help, I would love to be a mediator," Trump said.

Following the remarks, a massive political storm erupted in the country with Opposition parties seeking explanation from the Modi government. Seeing the outrage, External Affairs Ministry soon came out with a statement, denying any such conversation between PM Modi and Donald Trump.

Later, its spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said that it was time to "move on" and asserted that the Indo-US ties remained very strong. "We should move on. A statement was made by the External Affairs Minister in both houses of Parliament. The ministry made a statement on the issue. The US State Department has issued a clarification. I think we should leave it at that," Kumar said in New Delhi.