India Rules Out Scope For Third-Party Intervention After Donald Trump’s Fresh Offer To “Help” With Kashmir

After United States (US) President Donald Trump made another offer to “help” India and Pakistan resolve their dispute, the sources in Indian government ruled out any possibility of any third-party intervention on the Kashmir issue, News 18 reported.

India has long maintained its stand that Kashmir is a bilateral issue between the two countries, stating there is no scope for mediation by any other body.

Earlier on Tuesday (21 January), President Trump, while speaking to reporters with Pakistan Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan, said the US was “very closely” following the developments in Kashmir and reiterated he was ready to “help” in resolving the matter.

The US President has made as many as four such offers, including the latest one, ever since India revoked the special status of Jammu and Kashmir by abrogating the Article 370 of the Indian Constitution, and bifurcated the erstwhile state into two union territories.

“What's going on between Pakistan and India if we can help, we certainly will be willing to. We have been watching it very closely,” Trump said.

The US President is expected to visit India next month.

Earlier in August last year, India had strongly rejected the offer made by Trump during Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan’s visit to the US.

India’s Ambassador to the United States (US), Harsh Vardhan Shringla had said that the US President Donald Trump had withdrawn his offer to mediate after a terse reaction from India to the suggestion, it was reported.

“President Trump has made it very clear that his offer to mediate on Jammu and Kashmir is dependent on both India and Pakistan accepting it. Since India has not accepted the offer of mediation, he has made it clear that this is not on the table anymore,” Shringla said.