As President Donald Trump yet again offered to “help” India and Pakistan to resolve the Kashmir issue, New Delhi on Wednesday categorically asserted that there is no role for any third party on the issue.
Government sources also said India’s long-held position has been that Kashmir is a bilateral issue between India and Pakistan.
Responding to Trump’s offer, they said there is no question of any mediation or intervention by any third party. This assertion came after the US President, while addressing the media with Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan in Davos on Tuesday, said the US was watching the developments relating to Kashmir “very closely” and repeated his offer to “help” resolve the dispute.
It was Trump’s fourth offer in last five months to help both the countries resolve the Kashmir issue after India withdrew the special status of Jammu and Kashmir and bifurcated the state into two union territories.
“What’s going on between Pakistan and India… if we can help, we certainly will be willing to. We have been watching it very closely,” Trump said. Official sources said India’s clear and consistent position has been that there is no role to play for any third party on Kashmir. The US President is expected to visit India in the second half of February.
It is learnt that India had communicated to Washington after Trump’s offer to mediate on Kashmir last year that it is a bilateral matter with Pakistan.