Modi denies any outside intervention on Kashmir issue

Online Agencies
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday, with United States of America President Donald Trump by his side, categorically stated that there was no space for any country to mediate between the bilateral issues facing India and Pakistan.
The statement from Modi came as he met President Trump on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Biarritz, France and made it clear that the Kashmir issue will not see the intervention by any third power.
Modi, , addressing the media jointly with President Trump before their talks on the sidelines of the G-7 summit in Biarritz, stressed that India and Pakistan were one before 1947 and all issues between the two were bilateral, categorically rejecting any third party mediation.
President Trump, who had twice offered to mediate on Kashmir, said, “We spoke last night about Kashmir… and the Prime Minister really feels that he has the situation under control.” The US president said he spoke to PM Modi “at great length” last night.
“I have very good relationship with both the gentlemen (Modi and Khan) and I”m here. I think they can do it (resolve the issue) themselves,” he said.
“There are many bilateral issues between India and Pakistan and we don’t want to trouble any third country. We can discuss and resolve these issues bilaterally,” Modi said.
“India and Pakistan need to fight against poverty and lack of education, need to work towards the upliftment of people in both nations. I have communicated this to Pakistani Prime Minister. After Imran Khan was elected as the prime minister, I called him and told that Pakistan and India have to fight against poverty, against diseases and let us work together for the development of both countries. I always keep in touch with President Trump as well. India and Pakistan have many bilateral issues to resolve and we do not bother any other country with mediation. We can jointly deal with our issues,” said Modi as Trump looked on.
“This is an important meeting with my friend and the world’s oldest democracy. India is the biggest democracy in the world. He (Trump) congratulated me on the election victory. We can both work together, we have common values which can be of use to the world. In the field of economy, we are in constant talks and place due consideration of their (US) suggestions. Indian diaspora in the US, the way they have been a party to the US progress, I thank the people and administration of the US for that,” added Modi.
“We are talking about trade, we’re talking about military and many different things. We had some great discussions, we were together last night for dinner and I learned a lot about India,” added the US President.
President Trump shook PM Modi hand, too, while the two were facing questions from media and the two leaders laughed, signalling that they understood each other well.
“It is great to be with PM Modi, (India is an) incredible country and he is an incredible man and has had a tremendous election victory. He is a man who has love and respect in his country. We are talking about trade, military, and many different things. We had dinner together last night (Sunday). I learnt a lot a lot about India, its a fascinating country and place,” UP President added.
Modi’s statement comes just days after President Trump claimed that the former had asked him to mediate with Pakistan to find a solution to the Kashmir when the two had met on the sidelines of G20 summit in Japan’s Osaka.
After the meeting, President Trump tweeted:
“Just wrapped up a great meeting with my friend Prime Minister @NarendraModi of India at the #G7Summit in Biarritz, France!”
The situation in Jammu and Kashmir and trade were high on the agenda during the bilateral summit of the two leaders; US officials had said adding President Trump would raise the issue of restrictions and arrests of leaders.
The meeting took place against the backdrop of continued restrictions in parts of Jammu and Kashmir since the government’s decision to end special status to Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370 and split the state into two union territories.
Earlier, President Trump had described the Kashmir situation as “explosive” and offering to mediate between India and Pakistan if asked. Washington has traditionally maintained that Jammu and Kashmir is a bilateral matter between India and Pakistan. But since July, President Trump has offered his assistance more than once.
In July, after a meeting with Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan, President Trump controversially claimed that PM Modi had asked him to mediate on Kashmir. India rejected that claim and the “mediation” offer, emphasising that there can’t be any third party intervention on Kashmir.
Earlier this month, President Trump referred to the matter again, saying he would “certainly intervene if they (India and Pakistan) want me to”, triggering another reiteration of Kashmir’s bilateral status from New Delhi. Foreign Minister S Jaishankar tweeted that he had conveyed India’s stand to his US counterpart Mike Pompeo during their meeting in Bangkok on the sidelines of the East Asia Summit Foreign Ministers’ meeting.
Later, asked about India declining the US offer, President Trump had told reporters, “It is really up to Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi.”