Any discussion on Kashmir will only be with Pakistan and bilateral: EAM S. Jaishankar

India has again pressed its firm stance on Jammu and Kashmir and reiterated its position on the matter. Minister of External affairs Dr. S Jaishankar during a meeting with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in Thailand has clearly indicated towards the bilateral nature of disputes with Pakistan, mainly pointing towards the Kashmir.

S Jaishankar tweeted, “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.”

The snub from Jaishankar comes after US President Donald Trump had again brought out Kashmir issue and offered to mediate between two neighbors, Trump had said “It’s really up to Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi (to accept the offer of mediation),” When asked how would he “want to resolve the Kashmir issue”, Trump said, “If I can, if they wanted me to, I would certainly intervene.”

Earlier American President Donald Trump by his loose and vacuous comments had stirred a controversy for which he was criticized for all quarters. During a press briefing with Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan, Donald Trump had offered to mediate between India and Pakistan and said that PM Modi had asked him to help with disputed “disputed Kashmir” region and also added he would “love to be a mediator”.

However taking note of these comments, India had reacted firmly and had reiterated its stand of bilateral resolution of all outstanding issues between the two neighbors. Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Raveesh Kumar had stated India’s position and also clarified that no such request for mediation was made by PM Modi and tweeted:

“We have seen @POTUS’s remarks to the press that he is ready to mediate, if requested by India & Pakistan, on Kashmir issue. No such request has been made by PM @narendramodi to US President. It has been India’s consistent position that all outstanding issues with Pakistan are discussed only bilaterally. Any engagement with Pakistan would require an end to cross border terrorism. The Shimla Agreement & the Lahore Declaration provide the basis to resolve all issues between India & Pakistan bilaterally.”

While India stated its stand, several US lawmakers had also distanced themselves from the comments made by the US President. US Congressman Brad Sherman had tweeted, “Everyone who knows anything about foreign policy in South Asia knows that #India consistently opposes third-party mediation re #Kashmir. Everyone knows PM Modi would never suggest such a thing. Trump’s statement is amateurish and delusional. And embarrassing.” He also added that he apologised to Indian Ambassador Harsh Shringla for Trump’s amateurish and embarrassing mistake.

Eliot L Engel, Chairman of House Committee on Foreign Affairs had also called on Indian Ambassador and said “I support dialogue on Kashmir, but the pace and scope can only be determined by India and Pakistan” ultimately recognizing the bilateral nature of various issues between the rogue nation and India. Even the White house Press release did not mention Trump’s remarks on Kashmir, clearly indicating White House’s damage control efforts.

Nonetheless, the recent comment by S Jaishankar is sure to clear all doubts even if all the red flags in this direction have been missed by Donald Trump, this is surely a big sign not to be missed. India has for long maintained that all the outstanding issues between India and Pakistan are to be resolved bilaterally, Shimla Pact signed between Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and President Zulfikar Ali Bhutto of Pakistan on 2nd July 1972 clearly stated that “That the two countries are resolved to settle their differences by peaceful means through bilateral negotiations.” 

The Lahore Declaration signed during the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Government in February 1999 had also reiterated India’s stand and stated that both shall intensify efforts for an early and positive outcome of the “agreed bilateral agenda”. Though all the outstanding issue are poised to be resolved bilaterally, Kashmir certainly is an internal matter for India, and Pakistan’s involvement in the issue amounts to nothing more than a foreign intervention on India’s sovereignty.