New Delhi, July 23: External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar on Tuesday informed Parliament that Prime Minister Narendra Modi never requested US President Donald Trump to mediate in the Kashmir issue. Jaishankar reiterated New Delhi's consistent stand that Kashmir is a bilateral issue between India and Pakistan, and no foreign intervention will be accepted in the matter.

"I would like to categorically assure the House that no such request has been made by PM Modi. It has been India's consistent position that all outstanding issues with Pakistan are discussed only bilaterally," the External Affairs Minister said in Rajya Sabha. "The Shimla Agreement and the Lahore declaration provide the basis to resolve all issues between India and Pakistan bilaterally," he added.

Jaishankar further mentioned that dialogue with Pakistan won't be possible until Islamabad stops supporting terrorism. "Any engagement with Pakistan would require an end to cross-border terrorism," he said. Donald Trump Meets Imran Khan, Offers to Mediate Kashmir Issue Between India And Pakistan.

S Jaishankar's statement Donald Trump's mediation offer in Kashmir:

A political controversy broke out after President Donald Trump offered to mediate in the Kashmir issue, adding that he was requested to intervene by PM Modi. "I was with Prime Minister Modi two weeks ago and we talked about this subject (Kashmir). And he actually said, ‘would you like to be a mediator or arbitrator?’ I said, ‘where?’ (Modi said) ‘Kashmir’,” Trump said during a press conference with Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan.

India immediately rejected Trump's claim. "No such request has been made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the US President," Raveesh Kumar, spokesperson of MEA tweeted. "It has been India's consistent position that all outstanding issues with Pakistan are discussed only bilaterally. Any engagement with Pakistan would require an end to cross-border terrorism. The Simla Agreement and the Lahore Declaration provide the basis to resolve all issues between India and Pakistan bilaterally," he added.

Earlier today, the US State Department also clarified that Kashmir was a "bilateral" issue between India and Pakistan. The US State Department further stated that the US "welcomes" the two countries "sitting down" for talks, adding the country is "ready to assist" in the process.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 23, 2019 11:32 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).