In the wake of the escalating tensions between India and Pakistan following the devastating Pahalgam terror attack, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov held a crucial telephonic conversation with India’s External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar on Friday. The dialogue reflected Russia’s growing diplomatic involvement as a stabilizing force amid rising fears of further regional escalation.
According to a statement from the Russian Foreign Ministry, the ministers reviewed pressing matters in Russian-Indian bilateral cooperation but focused significantly on the deteriorating situation between India and Pakistan. Lavrov emphasized the importance of resolving differences through political and diplomatic means, specifically citing the 1972 Shimla Agreement and the 1999 Lahore Declaration as frameworks for bilateral dialogue and peaceful settlement.
Lavrov’s remarks underscore Moscow’s consistent foreign policy stance—encouraging regional partners to pursue de-escalation without foreign intervention. The choice to reference past agreements aligns with Russia's longstanding support for bilateral conflict resolution rather than multilateral or international arbitration, particularly on sensitive issues like Kashmir or cross-border terrorism.
The Indian side, while receptive to the diplomatic conversation, remained firm in its position. Jaishankar later took to social media platform X to reiterate India’s stance, declaring that those responsible for the Pahalgam terror attack—the perpetrators, the backers, and the planners—must be brought to justice. His remarks suggest that while India remains open to diplomatic dialogue, it will not shy away from holding Pakistan accountable, especially after 26 innocent civilians, many of them tourists, were killed in the attack claimed by Pakistani-backed terror groups.
The conversation between Lavrov and Jaishankar also touched upon future high-level engagements between the two countries, indicating that despite the current crisis in South Asia, India and Russia are continuing to maintain robust diplomatic momentum.
As the Pahalgam attack continues to draw condemnation from across the globe, including statements from the US, UK, and the European Union, this outreach from Russia positions it as a potentially key mediator, especially given its strong relations with both New Delhi and Islamabad.
The global diplomatic community remains on edge, urging both nations to step back from the brink. Lavrov’s call is among a series of international efforts aimed at defusing the volatile situation before it escalates into open conflict. However, given India’s current military posture and the tone from New Delhi, the pressure remains high on Islamabad to take credible action against the terror infrastructure operating within its borders.
