Don't agree with Farooq Abdullah on third party mediation: Mani Shankar Aiyar

Senior Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar on Monday flatly rejected the assertion by National Conference Chief Farooq Abdullah that Pakistan and China could be asked to mediate in resolving the Kashmir issue.

Speaking to ANI here, Aiyar said, "I don't agree with Farooq Abdullah, no third country's mediation is needed."

Shankar suggested that the Central Government should talk to the people who are not satisfied with the latter's approach to solve the Kashmir issue, emphasizing that dialogue is the only solution.

Earlier, Abdullah said that India should approach third parties, such as the United States and China, to mediate in the Kashmir issue.

Adbullah said India has so many allies across the globe, which can be approached for settling the Kashmir issue to act as a mediator between India and Pakistan.

"For how long are you going to wait? Sometimes, you have to pull the bull by its horns. The way is to have a dialogue. India has so many friends all across the world. They can ask them to act as a mediator. U.S. President Trump himself said that he wants to settle Kashmir problem. China also said that it wants to mediate in Kashmir. Somebody has to be approached," he said.