US president Donald Trump again offers to mediate on Kashmir dispute

SRINAGAR, (PTK): US President Donald Trump on Thursday reiterated his offer to mediate the Kashmir issue. He said it was up to India and Pakistan to resolve the Kashmir issue, but he was ready to assist if the two countries wanted his help to resolve the decades-old dispute.

This came after External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar informed Parliament that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had made no request to US President Donald Trump to mediate on the Kashmir issue. India has maintained that all outstanding issues with Pakistan could be discussed only bilaterally.

Trump was referring to his last week’s meeting with Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan, wherein he offered to help to resolve the Kashmir issue. Pakistan has welcomed his statement. However, his offer was strongly rejected by India.

“It’s really up to PM Modi (to accept the offer of mediation),” Trump told reporters responding to a question on India not accepting his offer of mediation on Kashmir.