India have once again clearly told the US that any discussion on Kashmir would “only be with Pakistan and only bilaterally”. This stand came hours after United States President Donald Trump raked up Kashmir mediation again.

Have conveyed to American counterpart @SecPompeo this morning in clear terms that any discussion on Kashmir, if at all warranted, will only be with Pakistan and only bilaterally. — Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) August 2, 2019

Foreign Minister S Jaishankar tweeted on Friday that he had conveyed this to his US counterpart Mike Pompeo. “Have conveyed to American counterpart @SecPompeo this morning in clear terms that any discussion on Kashmir, if at all warranted, will only be with Pakistan and only bilaterally,” Jaishankar wrote.

Trump on Thursday said it was up to India and Pakistan to resolve the Kashmir dispute but he was ready to assist if the two South Asian neighbours wanted him to help in resolving the decades-old issue.

“It’s really up to Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi (to accept the offer of mediation),” Trump told reporters responding to a question on India not accepting his offer of mediation on Kashmir.