PESHAWAR: Muhammad Khalid Jamali, Pakistan’s Ambassador to Russia, has said that Islamabad is open to Russia playing a mediatory role to de-escalate growing tensions with India, and has expressed willingness to involve Moscow in a joint investigation into the recent terrorist attack in Kashmir.
In a detailed interview with Russian news agency Ambassador Jamali emphasised Russia’s historic and strategic ties with both South Asian neighbors’, and described it as an “indispensable force in international politics.”“Given Russia’s privileged strategic partnership with India and its good relations with Pakistan, it can play a very important role in reducing tensions between the two nuclear neighbours,” said the ambassador.
Jamali confirmed that Pakistan remains in regular contact with the Russian Foreign Ministry and that recent diplomatic exchanges between the two countries have intensified. “These consultations are not interrupted. Just in the past month, we have had at least four high-level exchanges,” he noted. The ambassador also referenced a recent meeting with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko as part of ongoing dialogue.
When asked about the possibility of holding peace talks in Moscow, Jamali said that while Pakistan is open to the idea, it remains to be seen whether India is willing to engage. “We are ready to cooperate. But first we must see if the other side is ready,” he said, referring to India’s swift blame on Pakistan following the April 22 terrorist attack in Pahalgam in occupied Kashmir, which left 26 people dead, including a Nepalese citizen. Jamali criticised what he called a “blame game” by Indian officials and media, which began within minutes of the attack. He said that such accusations only escalate tensions without addressing the root causes of conflict.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has already proposed a neutral, transparent, and credible investigation into the Pahalgam attack. Ambassador Jamali stated that Islamabad would welcome Russia’s involvement in such a probe, alongside other neutral players like China. “If neutral partners can participate in a transparent investigation, we would welcome it,” he said. “Our prime minister’s proposal is sincere and genuine.” Highlighting the unresolved status of Kashmir, Ambassador Jamali reiterated Pakistan’s long-standing position that the right to self-determination must be granted to the Kashmiri people, by UN Security Council resolution.
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