WEBDESK: In the wake of rising tensions between Pakistan and India after the Pahalgam incident, Russia urges India to take diplomatic steps to reduce hostilities. This call comes as part of Pakistan’s ongoing efforts to engage the international community for peace in the region.
Russia joins other global players like the European Union, China, Türkiye, Switzerland, and Greece in supporting Pakistan’s push for de-escalation. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov called his Indian counterpart S. Jaishankar to discuss the current tensions, which could lead to a military conflict between the two nuclear-armed countries.
Indian media, quoting the Russian Foreign Ministry, reported that both leaders discussed the Pahalgam incident, the cooperation between Russia and India, and the overall tensions in India-Pakistan relations. Sergey Lavrov emphasized that the differences between New Delhi and Islamabad should be resolved through political and diplomatic means, in line with the 1972 Simla Agreement and the 1999 Lahore Declaration.
Lavrov’s call came a day after EU Foreign Policy Chief Kaja Kallas spoke with both Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and India’s Jaishankar, urging restraint and dialogue to normalize the situation.
U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance also said the U.S. hopes India’s reaction to the Pahalgam attack does not lead to a broader regional conflict. Despite historically close ties with India dating back to the Cold War, Russia’s call for caution highlights the shifting alliances, especially as New Delhi grows closer to Washington.
Although top U.S. officials, including former President Donald Trump, strongly condemned the attack and called it “terrorism” and “unacceptable,” they avoided directly blaming Pakistan. Unlike past U.S. administrations that frequently referred to Kashmir as a potential “nuclear flashpoint,” Trump’s mild tone marked a more cautious approach.
Despite international diplomatic efforts, India has failed to provide public evidence to support its claim that Pakistan was involved in the Pahalgam massacre. The lack of solid proof has raised doubts, turning what India hoped would be a strong case into a shaky claim.
Meanwhile, Pakistan continues diplomatic engagement with friendly and Western nations to ensure its stance is heard, especially as India uses the Indus Waters Treaty as a political tool. On Saturday, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif once again demanded a neutral investigation and accused India of making baseless allegations.
During a meeting with Türkiye’s Ambassador Dr. Irfan Naziroglu, Prime Minister Shehbaz emphasized Pakistan’s consistent and principled stance against all forms of terrorism.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar also spoke with his Greek counterpart George Gerapetritis to brief him on the changing situation. He rejected India’s baseless allegations, disinformation campaigns, and unlawful actions, warning that peace in the region is under threat.
