Russia’s Balancing Act: Navigating the Indo-Pak Rift Post-Pahalgam https://www.orfonline.org/expert-speak/russia-s-balancing-act-navigating-the-indo-pak-rift-post-pahalgam the incident also signals a slight shift in Moscow’s approach to the Indo-Pak calculus, suggesting a marked neutrality in Russia’s diplomatic stance between New Delhi and Islamabad. This shift appears to be influenced by the growing Russia-West contestation as well as regional geopolitical realignments, which have elevated Pakistan’s importance in Russia’s strategic outlook..
Moscow’s careful and balanced navigation of India-Pakistan tensions is not new. In 2019, Russia struck a similar balance following the terrorist attacks in Pulwama. Much like after the Pahalgam attack, Russia was deliberately cautious in its choice of words.. Moscow has also prioritised its partnership with Islamabad in the context of developments in Afghanistan, operating on the assumption that Pakistan wields considerable influence over Afghan affairs.