PM Modi rejects third party mediation on Kashmir, says it's between India-Pakistan; Trump agrees

In a clear-cut message to US President Donald Trump, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said that issues between India and Pakistan, including Kashmir, are bilateral and New Delhi would not want to "bother" any third country in resolving them. The strong remark from Modi came during a joing press conference with Trump after their meeting on the sidelines of G7 Summit in southwestern French city of Biarritz.

When asked about their discussion on Kashmir issue, Modi said: "India and Pakistan have bilateral issues. When I called Imran Khan afterhis election, I told him clearly that both India and Pakistan should fight on poverty. All issues between India and Pakistan are bilateral in nature, that is why we don't bother any other country regarding them."

Trump, who had earlier offered mediation, backed off on Kashmir, saying India and Pakistan can resolve the issue bilaterally. "We spoke last night about Kashmir, Prime Minister really feels he has it under control. They speak with Pakistan and I'm sure that they will be able to do something that will be very good," Trump said.

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Earlier last month, during a meeting with Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan, Trump had said that he was asked by PM Modi to become a mediator or arbitrator in Kashmir issue. While Pakistan welcomed the mediation, India strongly rejected the US President's claim and reiterated its long-standing policy of no third party involvement in Kashmir issue.

Following India's musculer move to strip Jammu and Kashmir of its special status, Pakistan is leaving no stones unturned to internationlise the issue by raising it on global fronts multiple times. They even took the Kashmir issue to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) with the help of China, but failed miserably after the council refused to issue any statement and suggested bilateral route to resolve the issue.