Amidst ongoing tensions between Pakistan and India after last month’s Pahalgam terrorist attack, the international community has urged both countries to de-escalate the situation and resume dialogue to ensure regional peace.
In a statement, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) on Sunday voiced deep concern over the deteriorating security situation in South Asia, with Secretary-General Jasem Albudaiwi urging both countries to exercise restraint and prioritize diplomacy.
Strongly condemning the terrorist attack targeting tourists, he reiterated the GCC’s “principled and consistent stance in rejecting all forms and manifestations of terrorism.” Stressing on the need to immediately resume direct talks, he emphasized the importance of resolving disputes peacefully as per international law and the U.N. Charter to ensure regional stability.
Albudaiwi also warned against the “rising tide of Islamophobia in the region.” He noted that discriminatory rhetoric could further inflame tensions, adding the tense situation between two nuclear powers poses a serious threat to regional peace.
The statement renewed the GCC’s call for the international community to “intensify its efforts” toward finding a peaceful resolution to the longstanding Jammu and Kashmir issue, underscoring the need to adhere to relevant U.N. Security Council resolutions.
Moscow’s offer
Also on Sunday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov spoke with Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and offered Russia’s help in resolving tensions between Pakistan and India over the Kashmir dispute.
“Particular attention was paid to the significant rise in tension between New Delhi and Islamabad,” read a statement issued by the Russian Foreign Ministry. “It was stressed that Russia is ready to act for a political settlement of the situation resulting from the act of terrorism of April 22 in the Pahalgam area of the Kashmir valley, in the event of a mutual desire on the part of Islamabad and New Delhi,” it added.
Lavrov’s conversation with Dar occurred two days after he spoke with Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar. In that conversation, he also called for a settlement of differences between the neighboring nations.