The Kabul Tribune (KT) — Russia is not acting as a mediator in Pakistan’s tensions with India and Afghanistan but is ready to provide assistance if requested, NDTV reported Monday, citing statements from Moscow’s Foreign Ministry.
In written responses published ahead of Foreign Minister
Sergei Lavrov’s annual press conference on Jan. 20, the ministry said disputes
should be resolved bilaterally.
“Russia does not act as a mediator between the
aforementioned states,” the Russian Foreign Ministry said on its web portal.
“However, we are always ready to provide any assistance we can in resolving any
differences between these countries should they so request.”
Moscow has consistently urged Islamabad to address its
issues in line with the spirit of the 1972 Simla Agreement and the 1999 Lahore
Declaration through bilateral dialogue.
The written responses were released after several questions
submitted for Lavrov’s annual news conference could not be addressed due to
time constraints.
Responding to a separate question about Russia’s strategic
and economic relations with Pakistan, particularly in energy, trade and
regional connectivity, the ministry said several high-level bilateral meetings
took place in 2025. These included a meeting between President Vladimir Putin
and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation
Organization summit in China.
“This density of political contacts undoubtedly reflects the
desire of both countries to expand mutually beneficial cooperation,” the
ministry said.
On the economic front, the ministry described the 10th
meeting of the Russian-Pakistani Intergovernmental Commission on Trade,
Economic, Scientific, and Technical Cooperation as the most significant event
of 2025.
Among the projects under development are the restoration of
the Karachi metallurgical plant built with Soviet assistance, cooperation in
pharmaceuticals — specifically insulin production — and the organization of
trial transcontinental freight transport within the International North-South
Transport Corridor.
A program for the development of trade and economic
cooperation between Russia and Pakistan through 2030 is also expected to be
adopted, the ministry said.
The statement added that possibilities are being explored
for Russian companies to participate in oil and gas projects in Pakistan and to
arrange domestic energy supplies. Several Russian regions, including the
Republic of Tatarstan and Primorsky Krai, have also expressed interest in
establishing direct cooperation with Pakistani provinces.
