Russia and Japan Urge Restraint Amid Escalating India-Pakistan Conflict Over Cachemira

The Russian Foreign Ministry has expressed deep concern over the escalating military confrontation between India and Pakistan, following a recent attack in Pahalgam, Cachemira, where 26 people were killed by the separatist group Frente de Resistencia. Maria Zakharova, the ministry's official spokesperson, stated that Russia is urging both nations to exercise restraint to prevent further deterioration of the situation in the region. Russia condemns acts of terrorism and emphasizes the importance of global unity in fighting this enemy. Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi has also voiced strong concern about the potential for the conflict to escalate into a full-scale military confrontation. Hayashi condemned 'terrorist acts' and called for both India and Pakistan to de-escalate through dialogue, emphasizing the importance of peace and stability in South Asia. He hopes that the differences between the two countries can be resolved peacefully, in line with the Simla Agreement of 1972 and the Lahore Declaration of 1999. The tensions between India and Pakistan, both nuclear powers, have been ongoing since their independence from the United Kingdom in 1947, with disputes primarily centered around the region of Cachemira. The two nations have fought three wars, with a brief but intense military confrontation in 1999, and have maintained a fragile ceasefire since 2003.