Moscow: Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and his Indian counterpart Subrahmanyam Jaishankar discussed bilateral ties and rising tensions between India and Pakistan following last month’s attack in Pahalgam, located in Indian-administered Kashmir.

According to Anadolu Agency, Lavrov, during a phone conversation on Friday, emphasized resolving disputes between New Delhi and Islamabad through “political and diplomatic means on a bilateral basis.” He reiterated Russia’s support for the principles outlined in the 1972 Simla Agreement and the 1999 Lahore Declaration, as per a statement from the Russian Foreign Ministry issued on Saturday.

The conversation also included discussions on the schedule for upcoming high-level engagements between Russia and India, underscoring continued diplomatic interactions. This dialogue occurs amidst heightened tensions between the nuclear-armed neighbors following the attack in the Pahalgam tourist resort, which resulted in 26 fatalities.

India has attributed the attack to
Pakistan, citing ‘cross-border links,’ while Pakistan has denied these accusations and proposed a neutral investigation with third-party monitoring. Diplomatic actions have been taken by both countries, including the cancellation of visas for each other’s citizens and the recall of some diplomatic staff.

Additionally, India has suspended its participation in the Indus Waters Treaty, a significant 1960 agreement concerning water use and distribution with Pakistan. In recent days, several countries, including the United States, have reached out to leaders of both nations in efforts to mitigate the escalating situation.