Tehran stresses commitment to secure peace, stability in South Asia
Araghchi urges restraint in India, Pakistan standoff
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi emphasized Iran’s commitment to play its role in securing peace and stability in the South Asian region amid soaring tensions between Pakistan and India over a last month’s deadly attack in Indian-controlled part of Kashmir.
Iranian top diplomat, who has traveled to Pakistan to mediate between the two neighboring countries, made the remarks in a meeting with Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in capital Islamabad on Monday.
Araghchi’s visit to Islamabad is the first by a foreign dignitary since tensions flared in the wake of the April 22 killing of 26 people — most of them Indian Hindu tourists — in the town of Pahalgam, which India blames on Pakistan, an accusation that Islamabad denies.
No group has claimed responsibility for the attack in Kashmir.
Upon his arrival in Pakistan, Araghchi urged India and Pakistan to exercise restraint.
“We seek de-escalation and urge all parties to exercise restraint and avoid increasing tensions,” Araghchi told reporters on arrival in Pakistan’s capital.
Shehbaz Sharif thanked Araghchi for his peace efforts, according to Pakistan’s government statements.
He expressed Pakistan’s serious concerns over the current tensions in South Asia since the Pahalgam incident in India. He also categorically rejected any attempt to link Pakistan to the incident without providing any evidence.
Pakistan’s prime minister said Islamabad has proposed a “transparent, impartial and credible” international investigation to clarify the facts behind the Pahalgam incident.
Also on Monday, UN chief Antonio Guterres urged the two nuclear-armed countries to exert “maximum restraint” and step back from the brink of war.
New Delhi’s accusation against Islamabad have sparked a series of heated threats and diplomatic tit-for-tat measures.
The Pakistani military said on Monday that it had conducted a second missile test since the standoff began.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given his military “full operational freedom” to respond and Islamabad has warned it will hit back against any aggression.
India will also conduct mock civil defense drills on Wednesday, government officials said.
Iran’s foreign minister is also scheduled to visit India on Thursday to meet with Indian officials.