Key facts
- Russia urged Pakistan and Afghanistan to resolve border disputes through diplomacy.
- The call follows recent deadly clashes along their shared border.
- Pakistan accuses Afghanistan of harboring militants, a claim denied by the Afghan Taliban.
- Russia has offered to assist in lowering tensions and mediating the conflict.
- Pakistan has confirmed it asked Russia to mediate the ongoing conflict.
Russia's Foreign Ministry has urged Pakistan and Afghanistan to resolve their longstanding differences through political and diplomatic means, following recent deadly clashes along their shared border. The ministry referred to Pakistan's airstrikes on border areas as a "tragic episode," with at least 28 people killed according to UN figures, though higher figures were given by Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban.
Pakistan accuses Afghanistan of harboring militants it blames for attacks within its territory, while the Afghan Taliban denies these accusations, stating that militancy is Pakistan's internal issue. Russia has expressed concern over the escalating tensions and offered its assistance in lowering them, stating it is ready to contribute to peace promotion if requested by both parties.
Pakistan's ambassador to Russia, Faisal Niaz Tirmizi, confirmed that Islamabad has asked Russia to mediate the ongoing conflict and appreciated the offer. This comes after previous mediation efforts by China, Turkiye, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia failed to achieve lasting peace. Russia's Special Representative to Afghanistan, Zamir Kabulov, has previously stated Moscow's readiness to mediate if asked by both countries, describing the situation as "regrettable" and a concern for the international community.
Russia's interest in mediating stems from regional security concerns, including the threat posed by the Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP), against which Moscow views the Taliban as "objective allies." The conflict between Pakistan and Afghanistan could derail efforts to tackle the ISKP threat, which affects Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Russia.