Russia asks Pakistan to act against terrorist groups

Expressing concern over escalated tensions between India and Pakistan in the light of recent events along the Line of Control (LoC), Russia has asked Pakistan to take "effective steps to contain terrorist groups active in the territory of the country".

Russia has also urged both the parties to peacefully settle disputes through diplomatic channels.

"We stand for decisive struggle against terrorism in all its manifestations. We expect that the Government of Pakistan should take effective steps in order to stop the activities of terrorist groups in the territory of the country," said a statement from the Russian Foreign Ministry.

"We are concerned with the aggravation lately of the situation along the Line of Control between India and Pakistan. We are calling on the parties not to allow any escalation of tension and to settle the existing problems by political and diplomatic means through negotiations," the statement added.

Yesterday, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs and the Defence Ministry in a joint statement announced that the Indian Army had carried out multiple surgical strikes in various locations along the Line of Control late on Wednesday night.

India's Director General Military Operations (DGMO) Lt. Gen. Ranbir Singh announced that Indian Army had carried out multiple surgical strikes in the wake of the infiltration bids by terrorists along the Line of Control (LoC), including at Uri and Poonch earlier this month.

However, Pakistan denied the claims of surgical strikes and said there was only cross border firing between the two forces that killed two of its soldiers.