The message was conveyed also to Pak Prime Minister Imran Khan when Lavrov met him last week, ET has learnt.Sources here described Lavrov’s comments as a reiteration of Russia’s consistent and strong support to India on the issue of Kashmir. The bilateral agreements mentioned by Lavrov include the 1972 Shimla agreement. While Lavrov in August advised Pakistan to pursue the issue bilaterally with India, it backed India in the UN Security Council closed-door session, against the Chinese moves to internationalise Kashmir.Similar views were expressed when foreign minister S Jaishankar met Lavrov in Moscow in August last week. Russia has full understanding that the Indian government’s moves on Jammu and Kashmir are India’s internal matter and Indo-Pakistan issues should be addressed bilaterally, Jaishankar stated in the joint press briefing with Lavrov in Moscow.Russia was the first permanent five representative of the UNSC to back Delhi's August 5 decision to remove special status for the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir. The Russian national security adviser (NSA) also backed India on territorial integrity, when the Indian NSA travelled to Moscow in August.

Source: Economic Times September 30, 2019 03:22 UTC