Russia has expressed its readiness to mediate between India and Pakistan following a deadly attack in the Pahalgam area of the Kashmir Valley that killed at least 26 people. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov conveyed Moscow’s willingness to assist in a political settlement during a phone call with Pakistan’s Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, the Russian Foreign Ministry announced on Sunday.
"Particular attention was paid to the significant rise in tension between New Delhi and Islamabad," the ministry said, referring to Lavrov’s recent diplomatic engagements with both countries. Two days earlier, Lavrov also spoke with his Indian counterpart Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, calling for restraint and dialogue between the nuclear-armed neighbors.
The April 22 attack in the mountainous Pahalgam region has reignited long-standing hostilities over Kashmir, a territory claimed by both countries since their independence from British colonial rule in 1947. The latest violence and subsequent diplomatic fallout have prompted serious concerns over regional stability.
In response to the attack, India has taken several harsh measures: suspending the Indus Waters Treaty, revoking visas issued to Pakistani nationals, and sealing the only operational land border crossing. Pakistan retaliated by shutting its airspace to Indian airlines, halting bilateral trade, cancelling Indian visas, and suspending the Simla Agreement—a 1972 treaty aimed at resolving disputes bilaterally, particularly Kashmir.
Amid the fallout, human rights concerns are growing. Over 1,500 people have reportedly been detained in India-administered Kashmir. There are also increasing reports of Kashmiri Muslim students being attacked by right-wing mobs across various Indian cities. In addition, the Modi government’s recent push to issue domicile certificates to over 82,000 non-Kashmiris has sparked fears of a demographic shift in the disputed region.
Russia, a longstanding defense partner to India, is seen as one of the few international actors with diplomatic leverage in both New Delhi and Islamabad. Moscow’s offer of mediation reflects a growing international alarm over the risk of further escalation in one of the world’s most volatile flashpoints.
As of now, neither India nor Pakistan has publicly responded to Russia’s proposal for mediation.
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