'Parties involved to decide': UN on Trump's proposal to arbitrate to ease LAC tension

Stephane Dujarric, a United Nations spokesperson, asked both the countries to avoid any move that would escalate tensions on the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

"It would be for the parties involved to decide who they would want to mediate this, not for us to opine. We're, obviously, looking at the situation, and we would urge all the parties involved to avoid any action that would make the situation even more tense," he said.

President Trump proposed to mediate amid rising tension between India and China along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), the de-facto border between the two countries.

Indian and Chinese troops have been involved in as many as four unsavoury incidents in recent weeks alone. Troops from the two countries clashed and came to blows on 5 May near the Pangong Tso lake that falls partly in eastern Ladakh and partly in Tibet.

US President Donald Trump on Wednesday offered to mediate between India and China over what he described as the 'now raging border dispute' between the two neighbours.

He tweeted: "We have informed both India and China that the United States is ready, willing and able to mediate or arbitrate their now raging border dispute. Thank you!"

In wake of the rising tension along LAC, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday held a high-level meeting with National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat and three military heads to discuss the ongoing stand-off with China in Ladakh, media reports said.

Earlier in the day, a separate meeting was also held with the foreign secretary.

NDTV quoting sources said prior to the meeting with PM Modi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh had met three service chiefs and briefed them.