‘Wait for bilateral meet’ – Indian diplomat on Trump’s mediation offer on JK

Team Udayavani, Sep 24, 2019, 1:17 PM IST

New York: Asking journalists to “wait” for the meeting between Narendra Modi and Donald Trump, a senior Indian diplomat refused to comment on the US president renewing his offer to mediate between India and Pakistan on Kashmir and his description of the prime minister’s statement in Houston as “very aggressive”.

Describing himself as “an extremely good arbitrator”, Trump on Monday said he was ready to mediate between Pakistan and India on the Kashmir issue if both sides agree to it.

“There is a meeting tomorrow (Tuesday) between Prime Minister Modi and President Trump. So let us wait for the meeting,” Secretary (West) in the Ministry of External Affairs A Gitesh Sarma told a press briefing here on Monday in response to a question on the US president’s remarks on Modi’s statements and his offer again for mediation.

Trump made the remarks during his meeting with Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly session here.

India maintains that the Kashmir issue is a bilateral one and no third party has any role in it.

Responding to a similar query on Trump’s offer to mediate, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Raveesh Kumar referred to Sarma’s response that one should wait for Tuesday’s bilateral meeting.

“The Secretary’s response (to wait for the bilateral meeting) is after giving some thought. You know, you are aware about our position, we have mentioned about this in the past. But my request is just hold on. Just hold on for the meeting tomorrow. I think it’s not very far,” Kumar said.

In less than two days after the Howdy Modi event in Houston, Trump and Modi will meet again for bilateral talks on Tuesday following Trump’s address to the UN General Debate.