Russia concerned about possible India, Pakistan clash

By Elena Teslova

MOSCOW (AA) The "dangerous maneuvering" of Pakistan and Indian armed forces on the Kashmir Line of Control is "fraught with a direct military clash," Russia said Thursday.

“We believe that the disputes settlement has to be carried out by the politico-diplomatic means on the bilateral basis in compliance with the Simla accord of 1972 and Lahore declaration of 1999," said Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharov.

Separately, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Moscow is ready to provide a platform for Indian-Pakistani dialogue after Indian jets entered Pakistan territory Tuesday claiming to kill several terrorists in a JEM training camp.

Pakistan, which banned the JEM since 2002 but is accused by India of providing the group a sanctuary, denied the claim and said Indian jets dropped bombs on empty forestland.

Tenison have risen since the incursion with the EU and UN urging the nuclear armed sides for calm.

- Russian foreign minister sets off for the Middle East tour

Lavrov will visit Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and United Arab Emirates early next week, Zakharova told reporters.

"The development of the situation in Syria, Yemen, Libya, the Persian Gulf zone and the Palestinian-Israeli settlement remains the focus of attention," she said.

Lavrov also wants to shape the agenda of a ministerial session of the Russian-Arab forum, scheduled for April in Moscow, she said.

- Russia to introduce a draft resolution on Venezuela

Zakharova announced additional efforts Moscow will take prevent foreign military action in Venezuela.

"Russia will offer to the UN Security Council its own draft resolution tonight, which implies engaging different dialogue and intermediary mechanisms, the way of coordination and provision of the international help," she said.

"Thanks to the pictures taken on the scene, the world knows what exactly was in the trucks,” she said of the failed U.S. attempt at humanitarian aid delivery last weekend.

- Russia welcomes Trump-Kim Hanoi Summit

Russia remains "positive" concerning the second summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean Chairman Kim Jong Un, said Zakharova.

It is necessary to support talks by the practical actions and to create an atmosphere of trust, she added.

"The process of solving the whole complex of problems of the Korean Peninsula, including nuclear, requires time and maximum endurance from all participants,” she said. “We consider it extremely important to maintain the positive dynamics of political and diplomatic processes in the subregion in line with the well-known Russian-Chinese initiatives."

Donald Trump and Kim met for a second summit Thursday to try to strike a deal on denuclearization of North Korea and discuss lifting of sanctions on Pyongyang.

The meeting was unexpectedly cut short in Hanoi, Vietnam, with the men failing to reach an agreement.

- Another round of inter-Afghan talks to take place in Doha on March 25-26

Efforts of the Afghan government to achieve national reconciliation has not produced tangible results, Zakharova said of plans to hold a third session of the Kabul process.

"The Russian side received an invitation to this event and, in general, we support the efforts of the government of Afghanistan aimed at launching negotiations with the armed opposition and resolving all related issues: the introduction of a cease-fire, the release of prisoners, the inter-Afghan dialogue on the future political development of the country. However, all these attempts at this stage do not bring noticeable results," she said.

Zakharova praised the initiative of the inter-Afghan meetings, including Feb. 5-6 in Moscow, as "having a great potential".

Another talks of this format, with the participation of the Taliban and Afghan politicians will take place in Doha on March 25-26, she said.

And an upcoming loya Jirga -- a traditional assembly of Afghan leaders that make decisions on major issues -- she said, "the majority of Afghans demand not consultative, but full-fledged loya jirga.”

"A number of influential political figures of the country and the Taliban expressed a negative attitude to this event, explained by the fact that it shows the intentions of the current president of the state to postpone the elections and extend his stay in office," she said.