MOSCOW (Diya TV) — Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Russia and Pakistan were at their “most positive stage in many decades” during a statement he made recently to stress the need for regional cooperation against terrorism. Lavrov appealed to Pakistan, Afghanistan, and India to “join hands in addressing the persistent threat of terrorism in South Asia.”
Lavrov said Pakistan was a victim of terrorism and stressed the need for concerted efforts for stability in the region. “Terrorism knows no borders,” he said, calling for greater collaboration among neighboring countries to tackle this shared challenge.
But when asked about the insistence of terrorism in South Asia, India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar shot back, “You are asking the wrong minister.” He said, “It is the minister of Pakistan who will tell you how long Pakistan intends to practice terrorism.
The exchange occurs against the backdrop of strained India-Pakistan relations, with New Delhi accusing Islamabad of supporting cross-border terrorism, a claim Pakistan denies. Long-standing disputes and security concerns have heightened tensions in the region.
Lavrov’s statements reflect the desires of Russia in the promotion of regional cooperation and confront extremism, a position aligned with its global geopolitical strategy. At the same time, Jaishankar’s comments reveal India’s intent to call Pakistan to task for what it perceives as state-sponsored terrorism.
In the face of these security issues in South Asia, long-term stability can be well ensured by sustained dialogue and multilateral cooperation, believe analysts.