US offers to mediate on Kashmir again; Prez calls Khan, Modi \'fantastic people\'

Washington: US President Donald Trump on Thursday said that it is up to India and Pakistan to resolve the Kashmir dispute and he was ready to assist in mediation if the two countries wanted his help in resolving the issue.

"It is really up to Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi (to accept the offer of mediation)," Donald Trump told reporters responding to a question on India not accepting his offer of mediation on Kashmir.

"Have they accepted the offer or not?", Trump sought a clarification when asked about India's rejection of his mediation offer.

"I think they are fantastic people - (Imran) Khan and (Narendra) Modi - I mean, I would imagine they could get along very well, but if they wanted somebody to intervene, to help them.... and I spoke with Pakistan about that and I spoke frankly in (sic) India about it," Donald Trump said.

He said that the issue of Kashmir had been going on for a long time.

Read | Kashmir is India-Pakistan bilateral issue, but 'ready to assist': US

When asked how would he "want to resolve the Kashmir issue", Donald Trump said, "If I can, if they wanted me to, I would certainly intervene."

Last week, in a joint press conference with Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan, Trump claimed that PM Modi had sought for mediation on the Kashmir issue. Trump said that PM Modi had asked for help during their bilateral meeting in Japan in June on the sidelines of G-20 Summit.

Read | MEA rejects Trump's claims, says Modi never asked to mediate on Kashmir

India, however, denied the claims and said the Kashmir issue was never discussed between Modi and Trump.