Islamabad (TDI): Russia has signaled its willingness to step in as a mediator between Pakistan, India, and Afghanistan, offering diplomatic support at a time when Islamabad’s ties with both neighbours remain strained.
Speaking at an event hosted by the Institute of Strategic Studies in Islamabad, Russia’s Ambassador to Pakistan, Albert Khorev, said Moscow was prepared to help ease tensions. He noted that Russia was concerned about the overall security environment in the region, particularly developments in Afghanistan, and hoped that cooperation among regional states would help restore stability, counter extremism, and support economic growth.
Khorev described Pakistan as a key partner for Moscow and highlighted its importance in President Vladimir Putin’s vision for a “Greater Eurasian Partnership.” According to the envoy, this approach emphasizes that regional challenges should be resolved by the countries within the region themselves. He also suggested that outside powers often play a role in worsening relations between South Asian states.
Pakistan has recently appreciated similar mediation offers from other friendly countries. Earlier this month, the Foreign Office welcomed Iran’s willingness to help defuse tensions with Afghanistan, saying Tehran could play a constructive role in the process. Islamabad also expressed disappointment that talks facilitated by Qatar and Türkiye collapsed following last month’s border confrontations with the Afghan Taliban.
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The recent clashes along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border began on October 12, when Taliban fighters, accompanied by allied militants, mounted an unexpected assault on Pakistani border posts. Pakistan’s response included targeted strikes on Taliban positions and militant hideouts, some of them located deep inside Afghan territory, including in Kabul and Kandahar. According to official figures, more than 200 Taliban members and affiliated fighters were killed, while Pakistan lost 23 soldiers in the fighting.
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Islamabad has accused certain elements within the Afghan Taliban government of aligning themselves with New Delhi to create instability inside Pakistan. Defense Minister Khawaja Asif, in an interview last month, said that India was using Kabul as a staging ground for a proxy conflict in the aftermath of the fighting in May. He argued that the Taliban’s negotiation teams had limited authority and that the real decision-making power in Kabul had been influenced by India.
