Russia offers to mediate Kashmir tensions
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Russia has offered to mediate between India and Pakistan following the deadly April 22 attack in Kashmir that killed 26 civilians.
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Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov attends a joint news conference following his meeting with foreign Ministers of the Confederation of Sahel States in Moscow, Russia, Thursday, April 3, 2025 (AP Photo/Pavel Bednyakov, Pool)
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has offered Moscow's support in de-escalating mounting tensions between India and Pakistan following a deadly attack in Indian-administered Kashmir that left 26 civilians dead.
The proposal came during a Sunday phone call with Pakistani Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, according to the Russian Foreign Ministry.
"Particular attention was paid to the significant rise in tension between New Delhi and Islamabad," the ministry said, referencing Lavrov's conversation with Dar.
The April 22 attack in Pahalgam, where gunmen targeted a group of tourists in the scenic Baisaran Valley, is being described by Indian officials as the deadliest civilian assault in the country since the 2008 Mumbai attacks.
While an initial claim of responsibility was made by The so-caled Resistance Front, an alleged proxy of the Pakistan-based group Lashkar-e-Taiba, that statement was later retracted.
India, however, has responded forcefully, suspending the Indus Waters Treaty, expelling Pakistani diplomats, and cutting off trade and travel links with Islamabad.
Pakistan has denied any involvement and, in turn, closed its airspace to Indian flights while warning of potential military retaliation.
Mediation Offered
In light of the volatile situation, Lavrov reiterated Russia's readiness to facilitate dialogue.
"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 ministry said via Telegram.
Lavrov had also held a similar discussion two days earlier with Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, urging restraint and cooperation between the two nuclear-armed neighbors.
Read more: Pakistani Kashmir orders stockpiling of food as India tensions flare
Kashmir, a region claimed by both India and Pakistan, has long been a source of conflict, with the two countries fighting multiple wars and engaging in frequent cross-border skirmishes over the territory.
On Wednesday, Pakistan’s Information Minister Attaullah Tarar warned that Islamabad has "credible intelligence" suggesting India is planning an imminent military strike within the next 24 to 36 hours.
