US lawmaker extends support to India over Donald Trump's Kashmir mediation remarks, reaffirms Pak must end terrorism on its soil for meaningful dialogue

In a major embarrassment for Donald Trump, not only the MEA (Ministry of Foreign Affairs), but also an array of US diplomats have called out his lie on mediation over Kashmir between India and Pakistan. US Congressman Eliot L Engel, Chairman of House Committee on Foreign Affairs reiterated India's stand on Kashmir mediation between India and Pakistan over Kashmir issue, saying that while he supports dialogue between the two countries, it is important the dialogue's pace and scope should be only be decided by both the countries. 

In a telephonic conversation to Harsh Vardhan Shringla, Indian Ambassador to US, he said: "I support dialogue b/w India & Pakistan on Kashmir dispute, but dialogue’s pace & scope can only be determined by India & Pakistan."

The Chairman further reaffirmed that in order for dialogue to be meaningful, "Pakistan must first take concrete and irreversible steps to dismantle the terrorist infrastructure on its soil". 

READ | MEA Calls Out Donald Trump's Lie On Kashmir Mediation, Says 'No Request Made By PM Modi To US President'

On Monday, while sitting alongside Donald Trump in the Oval Office, Pakistan PM Imran Khan asked the US President to conciliate the Kashmir dispute with India, to which Trump in a fallacious claim stated that he was already asked by PM Modi to do mediate between the countries over the long-going issue. Trump further expressed his willingness to be the mediator in the matter. 

However, in a quick response to Trump's claims, the Ministry of External Affairs released a statement rejecting a third-party mediation in Kashmir issue. MEA also clarified that "no such request was made by PM Modi to the US President during the recently-conculded G20 Summit when the Prime Minister and US President held meeting. The statement further reiterated India's stand on Pakistan that 'terror and talks don't hand in hand'.

Earlier, US Representative from California's San Fernando Valley Brad Sherman also said that he apologised to Indian Ambassador to the United States Harsh Shringla over Donald Trump's false claim, calling his statement "amateurish", "delusional" and "embarrassing". 

READ | US Lawmaker Slams Donald Trump's 'Kashmir Mediation' Lie, Says He Apologised To Indian Envoy Over US President’s 'amateurish And Embarrassing Mistake'