Rejecting Pakistani claims, India on Thursday said Russia did not offer to mediate on Indo-Pak. issues. The official Indian response came after the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan indicated that Russian President Putin had made the offer of mediation during the just concluded Shanghai Cooperation Organisation’s summit at Astana.
“No offer of mediation between India and Pakistan was made by Russia to India. It is my understanding that Russia is very well aware of India’s consistent position to address all outstanding issues with Pakistan bilaterally in an environment free of terrorism and violence,” the official spokesperson said, arguing that Russia did not offer to act as a mediator between the two countries.
The spokesperson of Pakistan’s MoFA had earlier welcomed Russia’s “attention and intention” to play a role between India and Pakistan.
No offer from Putin
The SCO summit of last week was crucial as both India and Pakistan joined the organisation as full-fledged member where members asked both the South Asian members to keep bilateral issues outside the organisation. Pakistan’s statement on the Russian offer was also negated by Russian official sources who said Russian President Putin did not make such an offer to PM Nawaz Sharif of Pakistan.
“According to our information this aspect was not discussed and no statement in this regard was made by Russian President. It looks like a wishful thinking of the Pakistan authorities. Russian position is well known and Moscow is following it,” said an official Russian source.
In a detailed note later on Thursday evening, Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the Russian position regarding Indo-Pak dialogue remains “unchanged”.
“The differences between Islamabad and New Delhi should be resolved by them on a bilateral basis in accordance with the provisions of the Shimla Agreement of 1972 and Lahore Declaration of 1999. Like the entire global community, Russia is interested in good neighbourly relations between India and Pakistan,” it said.
