Post by : Meena Ariff

Photo: Reuters

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has told US President Donald Trump that India will never accept third-party mediation on the Kashmir issue. This statement came after repeated offers from Trump to mediate between India and Pakistan over the Kashmir conflict.

Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri confirmed that Modi strongly conveyed India's longstanding position to President Trump during a phone call. The US president has often expressed his willingness to help resolve the Kashmir issue, especially after the conflict between India and Pakistan escalated in May.

In the phone call, Modi made it clear to Trump that no talks had been held between India and the US about a trade deal or the mediation over Kashmir during the recent conflict. Trump has previously claimed that the US helped broker a ceasefire between India and Pakistan, but India has firmly denied any involvement of the US in this process.

The tension between the two nuclear-powered neighbors had heightened in April after India accused Pakistan of being responsible for a deadly attack on tourists in Kashmir. In retaliation, India carried out airstrikes on what it called terrorist camps in Pakistan. This led to intense military actions over four days, with both countries accusing each other of targeting military sites.

In the aftermath of the conflict, Trump announced a ceasefire, claiming that both countries had agreed to halt military actions with US mediation. However, India rejected these claims, stating that any military talks had been conducted directly between India and Pakistan, through established military channels.

In addition, Trump also made controversial comments about using trade deals as leverage, stating that if the conflict ended, the US would offer better trade deals to both countries. This drew attention, as India felt that such statements could undermine its stance on Kashmir, which it considers an integral part of its territory.

While the situation remains tense, India continues to maintain that Kashmir is a bilateral issue between India and Pakistan, and it does not require any involvement from third-party nations, especially the US.

Despite India's firm stand, Trump's comments have caused some discomfort in Delhi's diplomatic circles. India has long discouraged the idea of treating India and Pakistan as equals and has always sought to handle the Kashmir issue independently, without international mediation.

This ongoing diplomatic tension between the US, India, and Pakistan could have future implications, especially in trade negotiations. As India rushes to negotiate a trade deal with the Trump administration before a deadline on July 9, the diplomatic relationship between these nations will continue to evolve.

The Kashmir issue remains one of the most contentious and sensitive disputes in South Asia, with no resolution in sight after decades of conflict.