'No change in position': India on Trump's offer to mediate on Kashmir

NEW DELHI: Buoyed by his "mediation" of what he described as a ceasefire between India and Pakistan, President Donald Trump waded into the J&K issue as well, saying he would work with both sides to find a solution, an offer India dismissed offhand although not in an official statement. Official sources here stressed India's position on the Union Territory has not changed and, as it has repeatedly said in the recent past, the only thing left to be achieved is the return of POK that remains under Pakistan's illegal occupation.

The govt also ruled out any talks with Pakistan, in line with its long-held policy that talks and terror can't go together, following US Secretary of State Marco Rubio's statement that both countries had agreed to start talks on a broad set of issues at a neutral site. A top source also called upon Pakistan to hand over terrorists wanted in India. "What is it that we can talk to Pakistan about in the current circumstances? Hand over these terrorists to us and then we'll talk," he said. "As for J&K, our stance has not changed. We are not going to discuss it with Pakistan," he added.

Even during his previous term, Trump had offered to mediate on the Kashmir issue but with the qualifier that both sides had to agree to it. Complimenting both countries for their decision to stop fighting, and in remarks that were seen as drawing an equivalence between India and Pakistan, Trump said on this occasion, “I will work with you both to see if, after a ‘thousand years’, a solution can be arrived at concerning Kashmir.”

Indian authorities also emphasised that it was only through the conversation between the DGMOs on Saturday that they reached an understanding with Pakistan to end the violence.

While Trump said millions could have died, suggesting the US might have been spooked by Pakistan’s nuclear weapon threat, govt sources said Pakistan can no longer use the same to deter India from acting against terrorists.

Another senior source speaking on condition of anonymity said India did not indulge in any “shuttle diplomacy” after the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22. “It wasn’t like the Parliament attack after which one-fourth of the US Senate was in India and another one-fourth in Pakistan (to defuse tensions). We always maintained that we will hit Pakistan if it chooses to escalate,” he said.

“The message through Operation Sindoor was that no place in Pakistan is safe for terrorists. Nobody is untouchable,” he added.