‘Kashmir a bilateral issue between India and Pakistan’: MEA on Trump’s mediation offer

India on Tuesday asserted that there is no change in its long-standing position on Kashmir, saying it’s a bilateral issue between New Delhi and Islamabad.

 

The assertion came days after US President Donald Trump offered to mediate on the Kashmir issue. 

 

The Indian stand, in accordance with the provisions of the Simla Agreement of 1972, has been that no external or third-party intervention would be allowed on Kashmir.

 

"We have a longstanding national position that any issues pertaining to the Indian Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir have to be addressed by India and Pakistan bilaterally," external affairs ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said at a press briefing.

 

"That stated policy has not changed. As you are aware, the outstanding matter is the vacation of illegally occupied Indian territory by Pakistan," he said.

 

Jaiswal, however, admitted that there were conversations between Indian and US leaders on the evolving military situation after India launched Operation Sindoor against the terror hubs in Pakistan.

 

"From the time Operation Sindoor commenced on 7th May till the understanding on cessation of firing and military action on 10th May, there were conversations between Indian and US leaders on the evolving military situation,” he said.

 

Trump’s mediation offer has posed a diplomatic challenge for India as Pakistan has been demanding a change in the provisions of Simla Agreement so that a third party can be brought in to mediate on the Kashmir issue.

 

Earlier too, Trump had offered mediation during his first tenure as the US president, only to be turned down by New Delhi. 

India