Russia, Iran offer to help resolve Indo-Pak rift over Kashmir

MOSCOW, May 05 (Reuters/AFP): Russia and Iran have separately offered to help resolve tensions between Pakistan and India over Kashmir. The Pakistan military conducted a second missile test since the tensions began, while India has begun work to increase the reservoir holding capacity at two hydroelectric projects in Kashmir.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov spoke to his Pakistani counterpart on Sunday and offered Russia's help in resolving tensions between Pakistan and India over Kashmir, the Russian Foreign Ministry said.

"Particular attention was paid to the significant rise in tension between New Delhi and Islamabad," the ministry said in a statement, referring to Lavrov's conversation with Ishaq Dar, who is also Pakistan's deputy prime minister.

In another development Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi will visit India on Thursday, its embassy in New Delhi said, days after visiting Pakistan where he held talks with senior government officials.

Iran has offered to act as a mediator between India and Pakistan as tensions between the two neighbours surge after an attack in Indian-administered Kashmir.

Lavrov's conversation with Dar took place two days after he spoke with Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and also called for a settlement of differences between the two neighbouring country Russia has been India's largest weapons provider for decades and New Delhi and Moscow have had close ties since Soviet times.

The Pakistan military said in a statement "The launch was aimed at ensuring the operational readiness of troops and validating key technical parameters, including the missile's advanced navigation system and enhanced accuracy," the military said in a statement.

In another development India has begun work to boost reservoir holding capacity at two hydroelectric projects in the Himalayan region of Kashmir, sources with knowledge of the matter told Reuters, after fresh tension with Pakistan led it to suspend a water-sharing pact.