Iran’s foreign minister engaged in discussions with senior Pakistani officials on Monday to mediate growing tensions between Islamabad and New Delhi following the tragic attacks on tourists in India-controlled regions in Kashmir last month.
Abbas Araguchi’s trip to Islamabad marks the first visit of foreigners since the escalation of tensions following the April 22nd massacre, which claimed the lives of 26 people, primarily Indian Hindu tourists in Pahargam.
Tehran offered to help ease tensions among nuclear-armed neighbours.
Araguchi held separate meetings with Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shebaz Sharif. According to Pakistani state media, Araguchi is also scheduled to visit India this week.
Guterres encourages maximum restraint
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also urged both sides on Monday to exercise restraints and make decisions that prioritize peace and human life. “Don’t make mistakes. Military solutions are not solutions,” he told reporters.
“Now is the time to get the most restraint and come back from the brink,” Guterres said. “The United Nations is ready to support initiatives that promote escalation, diplomacy and new commitments to peace.”
Islamabad has offered to cooperate with the international investigation. India has not accepted the offer so far, and several world leaders have urged both sides to show restraint and avoid further escalation.
Responsibility for the transaction
Pakistani military is on strong alert after ministers cited the Intelligence Election, indicating that India’s attacks could be imminent.
Foreign Minister Ishak Dal said on Monday that Pakistan “will exercise full restraint, but if India takes an adventurous step, we will respond appropriately.”
According to a statement from the ministry, Dhah refused to discuss what he described as an Indian attempt to involve Pakistan in the Kashmir attack.
“We are not the first to take a step in escalation,” Dah said, adding that he warned the international community if “if there is an act of attack by India, Pakistan will firmly defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity.”
He also accused the Indian Air Force of attempting to violate Pakistan’s airspace on April 29th. Pakistan scrambled the aircraft and forced the Indian jets to turn back, he said. There were no immediate comments from India on these claims.
Meanwhile, Indian Foreign Ministry spokesman Randhir Jaiswar wrote to X that Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday, “he strongly condemned the terrorist attacks in Pahargam.”
Kashmir is divided into India and Pakistan, both are alleged as a whole. The two countries are fighting two of three wars over the Himalayan region, and their bonds are primarily shaped by conflict over Kashmir, aggressive diplomacy and mutual doubt.
Extremists in the Indian-controlled portion of Kashmir have been fighting New Delhi’s domination since 1989. Many Muslim Kashmiris supports the rebels’ goal of integrating their territory under Pakistan’s control or as an independent state.
Additional sources •AP
