India pushes back against Trump offer to mediate Kashmir dispute

India pushed back against President Trump’s offer to mediate the dispute in Kashmir on Monday.

“We have seen @POTUS‘s remarks to the press that he is ready to mediate, if requested by India & Pakistan, on Kashmir issue. No such request has been made by PM @narendramodi to US President,” Indian Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted, referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

“It has been India’s consistent position that all outstanding issues with Pakistan are discussed only bilaterally. Any engagement with Pakistan would require an end to cross border terrorism. The Shimla Agreement & the Lahore Declaration provide the basis to resolve all issues between India & Pakistan bilaterally,” Kumar continued.

…that all outstanding issues with Pakistan are discussed only bilaterally. Any engagement with Pakistan would require an end to cross border terrorism. The Shimla Agreement & the Lahore Declaration provide the basis to resolve all issues between India & Pakistan bilaterally.2/2

— Raveesh Kumar (@MEAIndia) July 22, 2019

Trump told reporters in the Oval Office during a meeting with Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan that Modi had asked him to mediate the decades-long Kashmir dispute. 

{mosads}”This has been going on for many, many years. … If I can help, I would love to be a mediator,” Trump said. “It’s impossible to believe two incredible countries that are very, very smart with very smart leadership can’t solve a problem like that.”

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment on India’s denial of any such request.

Conflict over the Kashmir region, which both India and Pakistan claim in its entirety but control only partially, has been simmering for years but escalated earlier this year when the nations claimed to have shot down each other’s planes after deadly skirmishes.

The countries have committed to seeking bilateral solutions to disputes in the region.