Pakistan Seeks Russia’s Help to Defuse Tensions with India Amid Pahalgam Terror Attack Fallout

Moscow: In a dramatic move following the deadly Pahalgam terror attack that claimed 26 lives, Pakistan has reached out to Russia for diplomatic intervention, seeking to ease escalating tensions with India. Pakistan’s Ambassador to Moscow, Mohammad Khalid Jamali, formally requested Russia’s assistance in de-escalating the situation, underscoring Moscow’s unique position as both a strategic partner to India and a long-standing ally to Pakistan.

Speaking in an interview set to be published by Russia’s state-run TASS news agency, Jamali expressed hope that Russia could leverage its dual relationships with both countries to mediate, drawing a parallel to its role during the Tashkent Agreement of 1966, which helped end hostilities between India and Pakistan.

“Russia has long-standing relations with both countries. We hope Russia will play a constructive role in easing tensions, just as it did in 1966,” Jamali said, referring to the pivotal diplomatic intervention that helped avert further conflict.

Russia Calls for Restraint Amid Growing Crisis
As tensions mount between the two nuclear-armed neighbors, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov also stepped into the diplomatic fray. On Friday, Lavrov spoke to India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar over the phone, urging both nations to exercise restraint and de-escalate in the aftermath of the brutal attack in Pahalgam. Lavrov specifically referenced the 1972 Simla Accord and the 1999 Lahore Declaration, both of which emphasize bilateral resolution of disputes without third-party mediation.

“Both countries must resolve their issues through dialogue, as agreed upon in the spirit of the Simla Accord and Lahore Declaration,” Lavrov stressed during the conversation.

In addition, Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar also held a call with Lavrov, during which he briefed the Russian diplomat on the latest regional developments. The Pakistani Foreign Office confirmed that Lavrov expressed concern over the escalating situation and reiterated the importance of diplomatic engagement to prevent further conflict.

“Lavrov emphasized the need for restraint and warned against actions that could escalate the situation further,” a statement from Pakistan’s Foreign Office read.

Pahalgam Attack: A Deadly Turning Point
The diplomatic flurry comes in the wake of the devastating terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, on April 22, which left 26 people dead, mostly tourists. This marked the deadliest attack in the Kashmir Valley since the 2019 Pulwama bombing. In response, India has taken a hard stance, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi vowing to punish those responsible for the attack and their backers.

India also made a strong diplomatic move by suspending the 1960 Indus Water Treaty, a critical agreement governing the sharing of water resources between the two nations. This suspension has further strained ties between the two countries, heightening fears of an all-out conflict.