India's consistent stance on the Kashmir issue is that it is a bilateral matter between India and Pakistan, to be resolved through direct dialogue, as enshrined in the Shimla Agreement of 1972 and the Lahore Declaration of 1999. India views any third-party mediation as an infringement on its sovereignty and an attempt to internationalize an issue that it considers an integral part of its territory. The Indian government maintains that the entire Jammu and Kashmir, including areas occupied by Pakistan, is Indian territory. Inviting external mediation would, in India's view, legitimize Pakistan's claims and complicate a sensitive matter further. Historically, India has observed that mediation attempts have often exacerbated tensions rather than facilitating a resolution. Therefore, India firmly rejects any external intervention, emphasizing that a lasting solution can only be achieved through peaceful, direct negotiations with Pakistan, without any third-party involvement.