No mediation with Pakistan needed: Indian diplomat

CHANDIGARH, 03 Mar 2019 [Fik/News Sources]: No country has offered to mediate to resolve the crisis between the India and Pakistan, and India will not accept any offer of mediation, a top Indian diplomat has said.

"I want to emphasize that we did not receive a formal offer of mediation. And even if we do, we will not accept it. So far, no country has offered to mediate in resolving the conflict," Indian Ambassador to Russia Venkatesh Varma, a senior diplomat, told Russia’s RIA-Novosti news agency in an interview Saturday also run by Indian media.

Varma was reacting to reports that Russia had offered to mediate for talks between India and Pakistan.

According to the diplomat, India is not interested in escalating tension.

"India has clearly stated that it is not interested in an escalation of the situation. And the best way to achieve a normal state of affairs in the region resides in the actions of Pakistan in the fight against terrorist groups," said the ambassador.

Tensions between the two nuclear armed-neighbors escalated following a suicide bombing in Indian-administered Kashmir in mid-February that left more than 40 Indian troops dead.

On Wednesday, an Indian pilot was held in Pakistan after his aircraft was downed in a dogfight with Pakistani jets along the disputed border with Kashmir.

After Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan announced his release in a widely hailed gesture of goodwill, the pilot was handed over to Indian authorities by Pakistan on Friday.