Blitz Bureau
IN a nearly 35-minute phone call with US President Donald Trump, Prime Minister Narendra Modi firmly stated that India does not and will “never accept” mediation and that the discussions between Indian and Pakistani militaries on cessation of military actions were initiated at Islamabad’s request.
Reiterating India’s long-standing position, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said in a statement on June 18, “Prime Minister Modi stressed that India has never accepted mediation, does not accept it, and will never accept it. There is complete political unanimity in India on this issue.”
The call took place after a scheduled in-person meeting between the two leaders on the sidelines of the G7 Summit was cancelled due to Trump’s early return to the US. “The phone conversation was held at the request of President Trump,” said Misri.
Trump also extended an invitation to PM Modi to visit Washington; however, due to prior commitments, the PM was unable to accept, Misri added.
