Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov spoke to his Pakistani counterpart on Sunday and offered Russia’s help in resolving tensions between Pakistan and India over Kashmir, the foreign ministry said.
“Particular attention was paid to the significant rise in tension between New Delhi and Islamabad,” the ministry said in a statement, referring to Lavrov’s conversation with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar.
“It was stressed that Russia is ready to act for a political settlement of the situation resulting from the act of terrorism of April 22 in the Pahalgam area of the Kashmir valley, in the event of a mutual desire on the part of Islamabad and New Delhi,” the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement posted on Telegram.
Lavrov’s conversation with Dar took place two days after he spoke with Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and also called for a settlement of differences between the two neighbouring countries.
Suspected militants killed at least 26 people in last week’s attack on a mountain tourist destination in the Pahalgam area of the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir valley.
The Muslim-majority region has been the focus of several wars, an insurgency, and diplomatic standoffs.
Russia has been India’s largest weapons provider for decades, and New Delhi and Moscow have had close ties since Soviet times.
In the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people, Russia has urged India and Pakistan to resolve their disagreements through direct political and diplomatic engagement.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov conveyed this message during a phone call with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on 2 May.
Russia’s support for the Simla Agreement comes amid Pakistan’s indication that it may suspend the accord, a move India has viewed with concern.
The 1972 Simla Agreement, signed after the Indo-Pak war, laid the foundation for peaceful bilateral engagement, affirming respect for the Line of Control (LoC) and non-interference in internal affairs. The 1999 Lahore Declaration echoed similar sentiments, promoting the peaceful resolution of disputes and confidence-building.
