Russia supports India on Kashmir issue, Pakistan left fuming

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Russia on Wednesday called withdrawing Jammu and Kashmir’s special status as sovereign decision and internal matter of India and pitched for resolving outstanding issues between New Delhi and Islamabad through dialogue.Russian envoy Nikolay Kudashev said India’s decision on Jammu and Kashmir was in accordance with the country’s Constitution and Moscow is totally backing its close ally on the issue.

“India’s decision (on Jammu and Kashmir) is a sovereign decision which is as per its Constitution. Our position on the issue is totally identical to India’s position,” he said during a press conference.

The Russian envoy said India and Pakistan should resolve all outstanding issues through dialogue and on the basis of Simla agreement and Lahore declaration.

Deputy Chief of Russian Embassy Roman Babushkin said Russia had taken a position during the closed-door consultations in UN Security Council on Kashmir on August 16 that it was India’s internal matter.

“We were of the view that India and Pakistan should resolve their issues bilaterally,” he said.Babushkin said Russia has no role to play in disputes between India and Pakistan unless both the countries seek mediation in resolving their issues.

Earlier this month, India scrapped the special status of Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370 of the Constitution, and divided the state into two union territories.Moscow said that during a meeting in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), it reiterated that revocation of Article 370 was India’s internal matter.

“This is the sovereign decision of the Indian government, it’s an internal matter of India. All issues existing between India & Pakistan should be resolved through dialogue on the basis of Shimla agreement & Lahore declaration,” said Russian Envoy to India, Nikolay Kudashev, during an event in the capital.

Earlier this month, India had announced its decision to revoke the special status of Jammu and Kashmir and reorganise it into two union territories.

Echoing the sentiment, Deputy Chief of Russian Embassy in India, Roman Babushkin, informed that during the closed-door event at the UNSC, Russia reiterated that Kashmir is an internal issue of India.

“Russia has no role to play in India-Pakistan dispute unless both ask for mediation. During the closed-door event at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), we reiterated that Kashmir is an internal issue of India,” said Babushkin.

Following India’s decision, Moscow supported New Delhi on multiple platforms. It even asked Pakistan to engage with India to resolve the issue between the two countries.

Pakistan, with the help of China, even approached the United Nations over the issue.

However, the China-Pakistan axis failed at the UNSC closed-door meeting when a majority of the Council members including Russia refused to take up the Kashmir matter and rejected the Chinese position.

China and Pakistan stood isolated as a member after member refused to endorse their position.

With Agencies