India, May 23 -- India insisted on Thursday that any engagement with Pakistan can only be bilateral, ruling out mediation by any third party on issues between the two countries.

External affairs ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal told a weekly media briefing that there could not be any talks with Pakistan as long as it continues backing terrorism against India.

Jaiswal responded to a question on US President Donald Trump's claims about brokering a ceasefire between India and Pakistan by saying that the Indian side had already made it clear that the May 10 understanding on halting military actions was reached by the two countries.

"But at the same time, I would like to let you know that...our position [is] that any India-Pakistan eng...