No role for third party in solving Kashmir issue, says MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar after Donald Trump’s latest offer of mediation

New Delhi: There is no role for any third party in the Kashmir issue which has to be resolved bilaterally with Pakistan and the onus is on Islamabad to create an environment for engagement, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Thursday. The ministry’s assertion came in response to US president Donald Trump’s fresh offer to “help” in resolving the issue. “There is no role for any third party in the Kashmir issue,” MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said when asked about Trump’s offer.

MEA: If there are any bilateral issues b/w India & Pakistan that needs to be discussed, it should be done b/w the 2 countries under provisions of Shimla Agreement & Lahore Declaration. But onus is on Pak to create such conducive conditions - free from terror, hostility & violence https://t.co/z0TRVDyAp7

— ANI (@ANI) January 23, 2020

“Our position has been clear and consistent on Kashmir… It is a bilateral issue between India and Pakistan,” he said. Addressing the media with Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan in Davos on Tuesday, Trump said that the US was watching the developments related to Kashmir “very closely” and repeated his offer to “help” resolve the matter. Kumar said issues have to be resolved bilaterally and the onus was on Pakistan to create an environment for engagement. Pakistan’s attempt to create an alarmist situation in Kashmir failed and the global community understands its double standards, he said in response to another question.