Russia urges Pakistan-Iran to Avoid use of Force

Expressing concern over the recent tensions between Iran and Pakistan in border areas, the Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has urged both Pakistan and Iran to reduce tensions, and called upon the both warring nations should de-escalate tensions and promote diplomacy. The Russian Foreign Minister said that the use of force could further escalate tensions in the region.

Report by Syed Ishtiaq Hamdani, Moscow based journalist

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said this in an annual press conference in Moscow to discuss the results of Russian diplomacy and express his views on the changes in the global scenario in 2023. His remarks clarifies Russian position on first time since the esclation between Iran and Pakistan has evovled. Russian Foreign Minister has urged the both nations to reduce tensions and avoid the use of force.

During the press conference, Sergey Lavrov said that lasting peace in the Middle East is impossible without the establishment of a independent Palestinian state. He said that without the establishment of a Palestinian state, Palestinian citizens would continue to suffer discrimination and injustice, explaining that he hoped Israeli leaders would eventually reach the same conclusion. Lavrov also said that Russia wants Israel’s future to be secured, noting that Israel is a long-term partner.

According to the Russian diplomat, we are ready to play an active role in the full resolution of the conflict, which will guarantee Israel’s security within the framework of the implementation of the UN Security Council resolutions on the Palestinian issue. Lavrov said speculation about direct Russia-Ukraine talks hosted by a third party were just “rumors”. The Russian diplomat said that everyone knows that it is not Ukraine that decides when to stop fighting and to seriously discuss the realistic conditions for ending the conflict. He said that you have to talk to the West to end the war. Lavrov reiterated that any lasting peace would require Kiev to abandon its NATO ambitions. He explained that it must also abandon its “Nazi ideology and rhetoric” and stop its “racist” crackdown on anything related to Russia.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said NATO has shown no interest in resolving the Ukraine conflict because it is ignoring Russia’s security concerns. He claimed that the West was pushing Kiev to escalate tensions, and that its backers in Britain were advising Ukraine to launch a powerful offensive against Crimea in Russia. Lavrov also warned Ukraine that it is not fighting for its own interests while leaning on its “master” – Kiev has neglected the interests of its people. He cited Ukraine as an example of western interventions in Iraq, Libya and Afghanistan, which he said did not benefit these countries.

Talking about the recent airstrikes conducted by the United States and Britain on Yemen, he said that no one gave the United States and its allies the right to attack the Houthi militia in Yemen, Lavrov said that unilateral the operation resembles the Western bombing campaign against Libya in 2011, which left the country in total destruction.