PM Modi rejects third party mediation on Kashmir, says it is between India-Pak; Trump agrees

With President Donald Trump by his side, Narendra Modi on Monday categorically rejected any scope for third party mediation on Kashmir, saying it was a bilateral issue between India and Pakistan, and "we don't want to bother any third country" --a position that was immediately backed by the American leader who had recently offered to mediate.

In an apparent backtracking from his earlier comments, Trump said he feels that both India and Pakistan can resolve the Kashmir problem on their own. The two leaders appeared together to speak to the media after overnight talks on the sidelines of the G-7 summit and ahead of their formal meeting.

Modi and Trump were meeting for the first time after the Union government revoked Jammu and Kashmir's special status by abrogating Article 370 and bifurcating the state into two Union Territories. New Delhi's move was severely criticised by Pakistani leadership, including Prime Minister Imran Khan, who made provocative anti-India statements, triggering tensions in bilateral ties.

"All the issues between India and Pakistan are of bilateral in nature, and we don't want to trouble any third country. We can discuss and resolve these issues bilaterally," Modi said.

He said India and Pakistan were together before 1947 and he was confident that the two neighbours can discuss their problems and solve them.

"When I called Prime Minister Khan after the elections, I told him that Pakistan has to fight against poverty, India has to also fight against it. Pakistan has to fight against illiteracy and disease, and India has to also fight against them...I told him we should work together for the welfare of our people," Modi said.

On his part, Trump said he and Modi spoke about Kashmir "at great length" last night and he feels that both India and Pakistan can resolve it on their own.

"We spoke last night about Kashmir, the Prime Minister really feels he has it (situation) under control. They speak with Pakistan and I'm sure that they will be able to do something that will be very good," Trump said.

"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 added.

Trump's comments on Monday are being seen as a total climb-down from the time when he had made a startling claim that Modi has asked him to mediate on Kashmir and has been offered to do so on more than one occasion in recent past.

"Pakistan's propaganda was dealt the final blow in the meeting between the PM and President Trump. Pakistan was hoping to get some statement which will give it a last ray of hope. The meeting has categorically confirmed that any issue concerning India and Pakistan has to be discussed bilaterally," BJP spokesperson G V L Narasimha Rao said in New Delhi.

Trump also said,"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."
Thanking Trump for congratulating him after his recent election victory, Modi said their two countries "share democratic values."
Later, Trump tweeted that he had "a great meeting with my friend Prime Minister Modi."