No recent talks between PM Modi and American President Trump: Sources

New Delhi: India on Friday sought to put to rest any speculation about President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’ recent’ talks stating clearly that the last conversation between them was on April 4, 2020, on the subject of hydroxychloroquine.

“There has been no recent contact between PM Modi and President Trump. The last conversation between them was on April 4, 2020, on the subject of hydroxychloroquine,” Government sources revealed here.

Sources also clarified that New Delhi is not interested for any intervention or mediation by President Trump on the on-going border row between India and China.

“On May 28, MEA had also made it clear that we are directly in touch with the Chinese through established mechanisms and diplomatic contacts,” sources said.

The clarification from the Indian government source comes after President Trump’s remarks triggered a minor row and created a room for speculation about possible Modi-Trump tele talks.

“I can tell you; I did speak to Prime Minister Modi. He is not in a good mood about what is going on with China,” Trump told reporters during his customary Oval Office briefing.

MEA spokesman Anurag Srivastava on Thursday politely rejected Trump’s offer for any negotiation. “We are engaged with the Chinese side to peacefully resolve the issue”, he has said.

Srivastava further said, “Our troops have taken very responsible approach towards border managem

ent and strictly follow the procedures laid out in various bilateral agreements and protocols with China to resolve any issue that may arise in the border areas”.

“The two sides have established mechanism both at a diplomatic and military level to resolve situations which may arise in border areas peacefully through dialogue,” he said adding Indian forces will strictly follow the “consensus reached by our leaders and the guidance” provided.

Amid heightened tension along India-China border, the US President Trump had tweeted on Wednesday saying, “We have informed both India and China that the United States is ready, willing and able to mediate or arbitrate their now raging border dispute”.

India has earlier categorically rejected Trump’s keenness to mediate between India and Pakistan on Kashmir.

Srivastava said India is committed to the objective of maintenance of “peace and tranquility” in the border areas with China and our armed forces “scrupulously follow the consensus reached by our leaders and the guidance provided”.

“At the same time, we remain firm in our resolve to ensuring India’s sovereignty and national security,” he asserted.

It was also pointed out that since 1993, India and China have signed several bilateral agreements and protocols to ensure Peace and Tranquility in the India-China border areas.

These include 1993 Agreement on Maintenance of Peace and Tranquility along the Line of Actual Control in the India-China border areas; the 1996 Agreement on Confidence Building Measures in the Military Field along the LAC; the 2005 Protocol on Modalities for the implementation of the Confidence Building Measures in the Military Field along the LAC; the 2012 Agreement on the establishment of a working mechanism for consultation and coordination on India-China Border Affairs; and the 2013 Border Defence Cooperation Agreement.