SOURCE: Times Now Digital
As India and China engage in a bitter fight for supremacy along the Line of Actual Control after the People’s Liberation Army’s misadventures along the international border, Russia on Tuesday recused itself from interfering in the dispute.
Claiming that it will only help if both countries request it to mediate, Russian Deputy Chief of Mission in Delhi Roman Babushkin, said “It is a known principle of Russian foreign policy and of like-minded countries like India…we’re not interfering unless both sides are requesting us to do so. India and China should decide themselves whether they would accept it.”
He said that all that Moscow can do is help create a positive atmosphere that could aid a resolution between New Delhi and Beijing.
“We are not participating in the resolution of disputes between the two countries. We are focusing on creation of positive atmosphere for doing that,” Babushkin said.
He further said that Russia is pleased to see Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar meet their Chinese counterparts on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) meet in Moscow.
“We are very encouraged to know that Defence Minister Rajnath Singh met his Chinese counterpart, as well as Dr Jaishankar would also meet his Chinese counterpart on sidelines of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation event. We would be very happy to see positive results of these discussions,” Babushkin said.
Commenting on the Pakistan issue along the Line of Control, he said, “When it comes to the no defence/arms supply to Pakistan decision, it is based on the request and sensitivities of the Indian side.”
