PM Modi, Imran are fantastic people, if they want I can intervene in Kashmir issue: Trump

After US president offered to mediate on Kashmir during his meeting Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan last month, Trump once again reiterated his stand asserting that it was "really up to Prime Minister Modi to accept the offer of mediation."

During Imran's visit to the White House on July 22, Trump had told the Pakistan prime minister that he would "love to be a mediator", although the US State Department had said later that it was a bilateral issue concerning Islamabad and New Delhi, adding, however, that Washington was "ready to assist". 

Trump speaking to reporters on Thursday said: "It’s really up to Prime Minister Modi (to accept the offer of mediation). I think they are fantastic people - Khan and Modi - I mean. I would imagine they could get along very well, but if they wanted somebody to intervene, to help them and I spoke with Pakistan about that and I spoke frankly in  India about it. If I can, if they wanted me to, I would certainly intervene."

During his meeting with Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan, Trump claimed that he had spoken to PM Modi on the Kashmir issue which was later denied by the ministry of external affairs. 

"So I was with Prime Minister Narendra Modi two weeks ago and we talked about this subject. And he actually said, would you actually like to be a mediator or arbitrator? Did I say, where? He said Kashmir because this has been going for many, many years. I was surprised at how long it has been going on," Trump had said while hosting Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan at the White House.

"It should be resolved, so he has to think the same thing, so maybe I will speak to him and we will see what we can do," he added.

After Trump made his remarks on Kashmir, India in a swift response clarified that no such request was made by Modi to the US President.

"No such request has been made by PM Modi to US President. It has been India's consistent position," MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said.

"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," the external affairs ministry spokesman added.