The United States has once again brought up President Donald Trump’s controversial claim that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had requested his mediation on the Kashmir issue—an assertion India has repeatedly and strongly denied since 2019.
This resurfaced reference appears in a newly declassified US State Department memorandum, which highlights Trump’s statement made during a joint press conference with then-Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan. At the time, Trump claimed Modi had asked him to mediate the long-standing dispute between India and Pakistan over Kashmir.
India immediately rejected the claim, reaffirming that no such request was made and underscoring its policy that all matters with Pakistan must be resolved bilaterally—without any third-party intervention. The Indian Ministry of External Affairs released a strong rebuttal at the time, stating unequivocally that Kashmir is an internal matter and bilateral discussions are the only acceptable path forward.
The recent mention of Trump’s remarks may not change existing diplomatic dynamics, but it reignites a controversy that underscores the sensitivities surrounding the Kashmir issue. While the US continues to maintain strategic relations with both India and Pakistan, analysts warn that references like this could complicate its regional positioning, especially in light of current geopolitical tensions.
This development is likely to be watched closely in New Delhi, where any foreign involvement in Kashmir is met with political resistance.
