The story so far
U.S. President Trump claimed he mediated the May 10 India-Pakistan ceasefire.
India strongly denied this, with MEA and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar rejecting the claims.
Trump also made concerning comments about Kashmir, suggesting U.S. mediation.
These statements went against India's long-standing foreign policy positions.
Why have the comments caused uproar?
Trump praised both India and Pakistan and claimed credit for a ceasefire just before India’s announcement.
He wrongly described the Kashmir dispute as “a thousand years old.”
He offered to mediate, breaking India’s stand of no third-party role in Kashmir.
This clashed with India’s policy: no internationalisation, no Pakistan link, and focus on terrorism.
What does internationalisation mean?
Nehru took the Kashmir issue to the UN in 1947 after Pakistan occupied PoK.
He did not ask for UN arbitration but only help to stop Pakistan's aggression.
Over time, UN expanded its involvement.
After 1971, India and Pakistan agreed to resolve the issue bilaterally via the Simla Accord.
In 1994, India’s Parliament reaffirmed that J&K is an integral part of India.
After 2019 (Article 370 changes), Pakistan tried to raise the issue globally with limited success.
India now says talks with Pakistan will only be about getting PoK back.
Has any third-party ever mediated before?
The Simla Accord ended the UN's role.
Still, countries like the U.S. and UAE try to help behind the scenes when tensions rise.
The USSR hosted talks after the 1965 war (Tashkent Declaration).
During Kargil, the U.S. urged talks, but India refused mediation.
From 2003–2008, India and Pakistan held quiet talks with U.S. support.
After the 2019 Balakot strike, Trump said he helped free an Indian pilot and again offered to mediate — India refused.
Is direct dialogue with Pakistan a possibility?
Official talks have stopped since 2015.
India closed channels like the Indus Waters Treaty and Kartarpur corridor recently.
Only border security-level communications continue.
Secret talks are used in crisis times (e.g., after Pathankot attack, 2022 missile misfire).
Pakistan’s new calls for talks have been rejected by India.
India says talks will only be about terrorism and PoK — which Pakistan won’t accept.
Lack of talks leaves room for others to try to mediate.
India prefers to globalise the fight against terrorism, not the Kashmir issue.
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