Pakistan Grateful For Russia's Offer Of Mediation Over Tensions With India - Ambassador

Islamabad is grateful to Russia for the offer to mediate tensions between Pakistan and India, Pakistani Ambassador to Russia Qazi Khalilullah told Sputnik on Friday

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 22nd March, 2019) Islamabad is grateful to Russia for the offer to mediate tensions between Pakistan and India, Pakistani Ambassador to Russia Qazi Khalilullah told Sputnik on Friday.

Pakistani Minister of Foreign Affairs Shah Mahmood Qureshi said on March 1 that Pakistan was ready to accept Russia's offer to mediate. However, Indian Ambassador to Russia Bala Venkatesh Varma told Sputnik that New Delhi would not accept mediation.

"We are grateful to Russia for offering to provide a venue for talks between Pakistan and India. That was done by H.E. Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov personally and we welcome that. We appreciate that. We are ready to avail that offer provided that we know that the other side is also willing," Khalilullah said.

The ambassador added that Pakistan was ready to come to Russia at any time.

"Russia is a great power. Russia has been taking an increasing interest in stability in South Asia and we welcome that," the diplomat said.

Tensions flared up between India and Pakistan after India carried out an airstrike in the disputed region of Kashmir targeting what it said were terrorist bases. The strike came in response to a February attack on an Indian military convoy in Kashmir.

Jaish-e-Mohammad group claimed responsibility for the deadly attack. India blamed Pakistan for letting the group operate on its territory, while Islamabad rejected the accusations.