Foreign Minister Discusses India-Pakistan Tensions with Russia
On Friday, India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar held a conversation with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov regarding the increasing tensions between India and Pakistan. This discussion comes in the wake of a tragic terrorist attack in Pahalgam, which claimed 26 lives.
The Russian foreign ministry reported that the two ministers also focused on planning future high-level meetings between their countries.
The attack on tourists in Pahalgam occurred on April 22, and was reportedly carried out by the Resistance Front (TRF), a group believed to have links to Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). Although initially claiming responsibility, the group later retracted its statement.
During their discussions, Jaishankar and Lavrov addressed the deterioration of relations between India and Pakistan following this incident. Lavrov emphasized the need for both nations to resolve their differences through political and diplomatic channels, referencing the Simla Agreement of 1972 and the Lahore Declaration of 1999.
In response to the attack, the Indian government implemented several measures, including the closure of the Attari border crossing and the suspension of the SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme, which allowed Pakistani citizens to enter India more easily. They gave Pakistani nationals 40 hours to exit the country and reduced personnel at their respective High Commissions.
Jaishankar later took to social media platform X, highlighting their discussion about the Pahalgam attack and stressing the importance of holding accountable those responsible for planning and supporting the act of terror, while also mentioning ongoing bilateral cooperation initiatives.
