Any discussion on Kashmir, will only be with Pakistan, bilaterally: Jaishankar tells US

Rejecting any mediation by US President Donald Trump on Kashmir, India on Friday made it clear to America that any discussion on the issue, if at all warranted, will only be with Pakistan and only bilaterally.

The assertion by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar came hours after President Trump said he would "certainly intervene" on the Kashmir issue if New Delhi and Islamabad wanted him to.

Jaishankar who met US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in Bangkok on the sidelines of the 9th East Asia Summit Foreign Ministers meeting conveyed India's stand that any discussion on the Kashmir issue would be between India and Pakistan only.

President Trump's stunning claim that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had asked him to mediate on the Kashmir issue triggered a massive political row in India. The government asserted that no such request was made by Prime Minister Modi to the US president and all issues will have to be resolved with Islamabad bilaterally.

"Held wide ranging discussions with @SecPompeo on regional issues," Jaishankar tweeted after his meeting with his American counterpart.

"Have conveyed to American counterpart @SecPompeo this morning in clear terms that any discussion on Kashmir, if at all warranted, will only be with Pakistan and only bilaterally," he said in another tweet.

Meanwhile, President Trump on Thursday said he would "certainly intervene" between India and Pakistan on Kashmir if they wanted him to.

But he said it was up to India and Pakistan to resolve the Kashmir issue but he was ready to assist if the two South Asian neighbours wanted him to help in resolving the issue.

When asked how would he "want to resolve the Kashmir issue", Trump said, "If I can, if they wanted me to, I would certainly intervene."