New Delhi:Top Congress leaders on Tuesday backed India's stance on US President Donald Trump's offer to mediate with Pakistan on the Kashmir issue, reaffirming that Prime Minister Narendra Modi would never ask any third party to mediate.
The US President, during his meeting with Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday, had expressed his desire to mediate the "issue of Kashmir" between the two South Asian neighbours on "Prime Minister Narendra Modi's request."
However, India has categorically denied the Prime Minister making any such request, with Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Raveesh Kumar saying "all outstanding issues with Pakistan are discussed only bilaterally."
Former Minister of State for External Affairs and Congress leader Shashi Tharoor said Trump may not have been briefed on the issue.
"Trump does not know what he is saying. Maybe he did not understand the issue or nobody briefed him. Impossible that Modi will ask anyone else because it is our clear policy that we do not want third-party mediation. If we have to talk to Pakistan, we will do that directly," he said.
Echoing Tharoor's view, former External Affairs Minister and Congress leader Natwar Singh said it was "strange" for Trump to make such a statement.
"I found it very strange that the US President has given such a statement. It is very unlikely that our Prime Minister has asked for mediation. No Indian Prime Minister has ever asked for intervention.