Refusing China’s offer, India on Thursday ruled out any third party mediation on Kashmir. However, it said that it is ready to talk to Pakistan under a bilateral framework.

“Our stand is absolutely clear. You are aware that the heart of the matter is cross-border terrorism emanating from a particular country that threatens peace and stability in the country, region, and the world,” external affairs spokesperson Gopal Baglay said.

“We are ready to have a dialogue with Pakistan on Kashmir under a bilateral framework,” Baglay said at his weekly media briefing.

He was reacting to the Chinese foreign office spokesperson on Wednesday saying that China was ready to play a “constructive role” in improving India-Pakistan ties over Kashmir, where the “situation has attracted the attention of the international community”.

“We are ready to talk Kashmir with Pakistan, but no third party mediation,” Baglay said.

He said that India’s position on addressing all issues including Kashmir with Pakistan in a bilateral framework had not changed, the spokesperson told reporters here when asked to comment on China expressing its willingness to play a “constructive role” over Kashmir.

On the standoff between the armies of India and China in the Dokalam area, he said diplomatic channels would continue to be used for a resolution.

Asked about China’s comment that there was no “bilateral meeting” between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping, the MEA spokesperson said, “There was a conversation between them. There was a range of issues that was the subject matter of the conversation.

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