The Russian government officials have said on Thursday that Moscow is ready to mediate between India and Pakistan in order to try to ease tensions between the two nuclear powers, further warning the risk of upcoming clashes between the two countries.
According to Reuters news reports, Russia has made his offer after Islamabad said it was considering to return the Indian pilot wing commander Abhinandan Varthaman and as the US President Donald Trump has said Washington mediation was helping both countries to defuse their escalated tension.
Russia, particularly with India, has close relations, where India buys large quantities of Russian military equipment, and Russia’s relationship with Pakistan has warmed in recent years.
When asked if Russia was ready to help mediate between the two countries, the TASS news agency quoted Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov as saying, “If they want this, then of course.”
Foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova later said Russia was ready to do anything it could to help both the side in deescalating the tensions.
“We are concerned about the escalation of tensions between India and Pakistan and the dangerous manoeuvring of the two countries’ armed forces near the line of control, which risks direct military clashes,” Zakharova told reporters.
Lavrov spoke to Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj on Wednesday on the sidelines of an event in China after which he said he hoped tensions could be de-escalated and that both countries would show restraint.