India denies Trump's claim of talks with Modi over LAC dispute

• Clarification comes just hours after Trump told reporters in Washington that he had spoken to Modi and the Indian PM is not in a "good mood" over the "big conflict" between India and China.
• India's Ministry of External Affairs said it is directly in touch with China through established mechanisms and diplomatic contacts to resolve the border issue in eastern Ladakh.

(Karachi) Indian government officials have contradicted US president's claim saying there has been no recent contact between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Trump on India's ongoing military standoff with China in eastern Ladakh.

According to Indian media reports, the clarification comes just hours after Trump told reporters in Washington that he had spoken to Modi and the Indian PM is not in a "good mood" over the "big conflict" between India and China.

India claims that the last conversation between the two leaders took place on April 4, 2020, over the issue of hydroxychloroquine. India's Ministry of External Affairs said it is directly in touch with China through established mechanisms and diplomatic contacts to resolve the border issue in eastern Ladakh.

Meanwhile, Indian officials also dismissed Donald Trump’s repeated offer of mediation. The US president said he was willing to “mediate or arbitrate” over  “raging border dispute” between India and China.

Earlier on May 5, Indian and Chinese soldiers clashed near the Pangong Tso Lake in Ladakh. The skirmish took place because the Chinese military had objected to Indian troops patrols in the Line of Actual Control (LAC). However on May 9, tensions escalated between the two sides and soldiers from both sides came to blows and threw stones at each other. No arms were used but several dozen soldiers were injured, including a senior Indian officer who was required to be airlifted to a hospital.