US Has Very Good, Growing Relationship With India: White House

Washington: The United States has a very good and growing relationship with India, the White House said on Thursday.

"We have a very good and growing relationship with (Prime Minister) Mr (Narendra) Modi and the Indian government," White House Counselor Kellyanne Conway told reporters during a press gaggle.

She was responding to a question on the denial by the Indian government that Modi requested President Donald Trump to mediate or arbitrate on the Kashmir issue.

Earlier this week, Trump stunned India during a joint media availability with Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan by saying that Modi had asked for such a mediation. Trump said Modi asked for this during their meeting last month in Japan on the sidelines of the G-20 Summit.

India's External affairs Minister S Jaishankar has said Modi never asked for it and the issue of Kashmir was never discussed between the two leaders. India says Kashmir is a bilateral issue.

By Lalit K Jha