New Delhi: Pakistan’s ambassador to Russia has appealed to Moscow to mediate and help defuse escalating tensions between Islamabad and New Delhi amid rising hostilities between the nuclear-armed neighbours. India has taken various diplomatic actions and suspended the Indus Water Treaty after Pakistan-based terrorists opened fire on a group of tourists in the scenic meadows of Baisaran in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam on April 22.
Ambassador Mohammad Khalid Jamali, in an interview to Russian state-run TASS news agency, underscored Russia’s historically close ties with both India and Pakistan. He suggested that Moscow could play a constructive role, much like its intervention at Tashkent in 1966, which helped bring an end to armed hostilities between the neighbours.
Jamali’s appeal amid escalating crisis
“Russia has a privileged strategic partnership with India and also very good relations with Pakistan. We believe Moscow can utilise its good offices to reduce tensions and promote dialogue,” Jamali said.
The appeal comes against the backdrop of rapidly deteriorating relations between the countries after the Pahalgam attack. At least 26 people were killed in the deadliest assault in the Valley since Pulwama in 2019. The attack has led to increased military vigilance along the border.
Blackout rehearsal in Ferozepur Cantonment
Meanwhile, security preparedness on the ground has intensified. On Sunday, a 30-minute blackout rehearsal was conducted in the Ferozepur Cantonment area of Punjab. “The blackout was from 9pm to 9.30pm. All lights were switched off and vehicles with lights on were halted,” a TOI report quoted Gurjant Singh, SHO of Ferozepur Cantt Police Station as saying.
Punjab Police have also arrested two individuals, Palak Sher Masih and Suraj Masih, accused of leaking sensitive information and photographs of army cantonments and air bases in Amritsar to Pakistani intelligence operatives.
