Donald Trump’s Chief Economic Advisor Larry Kudlow hasdismissed India’s claim that Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not ask the USPresident to mediate between New Delhi and Islamabad on the Kashmir issue. Whenasked about India’s denial on Trump’s remark on Kashmir, Kudlow said, “ThePresident does not make things up”. In a brief press meet, the US official wasasked by a reporter, “The President said that he has been asked by Indian PrimeMinister Modi to mediate between India and Pakistan. India has said that it isnot even close to truth. Did the President just make that up?”

Responding to it, Kudlow said that the question was “veryrude”, adding that the US President “does not make things up”. He refused tocomment further on the issue, saying it is on President Trump and US Secretaryof State Mike Pompeo to elaborate on the issue. This comes after Indiacategorically denied any such discussion taking place between Prime MinisterModi and Trump. Issuing statement in both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, ExternalAffairs Minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday said that the Prime Minister neverasked the US to mediate on the issue of Kashmir, citing the Shimla agreementand Lahore declaration.

“I would like to categorically assure the House that no suchrequest has been made by PM Modi. It has been India's consistent position thatall outstanding issues with Pakistan are discussed only bilaterally. Anyengagement with Pakistan would require an end to cross-border terrorism,"said the External Affairs Minister.

He further said, “The Shimla Agreement and the Lahoredeclaration provide the basis to resolve all issues between India and Pakistanbilaterally.”

Following India’s denial, the US State Department on Tuesdaywent in damage-control mode. A statement issued by the department said thatKashmir is a bilateral issue between India and Pakistan, adding that the US wasready to assist both the countries. In a joint press conference with PakistanPrime Minister Imran Khan, Trump had said that Prime Minister Modi had askedhim to mediate on the Kashmir issue.