Iran calls for restraint in New Delhi amid India-Pakistan tensions

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi called for restraint between India and Pakistan during his visit to New Delhi on Thursday as tensions continue to rise following last month’s deadly attack on tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir.

“We hope that India and Pakistan will prevent the escalation of tension in the region,” Araghchi said, according to Iranian state media. “Our region needs peace, especially to expand economic cooperation between regional countries, and we hope this will happen.”

The visit, planned before the attack, is focused on co-chairing the Iran-India Joint Commission meeting with Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar.

India is a key trading partner for Iran, in spite of global sanctions, and the upcoming talks are expected to cover trade, energy, and infrastructure cooperation.

Araghchi arrived in India after meetings in Islamabad earlier this week, where he held talks with Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, President Asif Ali Zardari, and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

The diplomatic trip comes days after India launched airstrikes on what it said were “terrorist camps” in Pakistan in response to the attack in Kashmir’s Baisaran Valley, which killed 26 civilians, including 25 Indian tourists.

Pakistan denied involvement and said the Indian strikes killed at least 31 civilians, vowing to respond.

Iran has offered to mediate between the two nuclear-armed neighbours, though New Delhi has rejected third-party involvement, according to local media.