KABUL: The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs recently stated that Moscow is not currently acting as a mediator between Pakistan, Afghanistan, and India, but it is prepared to provide assistance if requested.
The Indian media outlet ETV Bharat citing the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported this morning, that the ministry addressed the issue of its non-mediation role, which had been raised during a press conference by Sergey Lavrov, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, on January 20 (around two weeks ago) but had not been responded to at that time.
The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated, “Russia does not act as a mediator between the mentioned countries; however, we are always ready to provide any assistance within our capabilities to resolve disputes among them if requested.”
The report noted that Moscow emphasized that Islamabad should resolve its issues in light of the Shimla Agreement of 1972 and the Lahore Declaration of 1999 through bilateral discussions.
The Shimla Agreement of 1972 was signed following the India-Pakistan war of 1971, which led to the independence of Bangladesh, to restore relations between Islamabad and New Delhi and define borders.
Similarly, the Lahore Declaration in 1999 was signed between the Prime Ministers of India and Pakistan in Lahore after nuclear crises and border tensions, aiming to de-escalate tensions and build trust.
In 2025, Pakistan faced strained relations with Afghanistan and India, ranging from military conflicts to complete severance of trade and economic ties.
“Russia is not mediating between Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India but is ready to help”
