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Lavrov tells Pakistani counterpart it’s vital to defuse tensions with India

On August 5, New Delhi announced that it was depriving the state of Jammu and Kashmir of autonomy, breaking it up in two

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov Sergei Fadeichev/TASS

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov

© Sergei Fadeichev/TASS

MOSCOW, August 14. /TASS/. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in his phone conversation with Pakistani counterpart Mehmood Qureshi highlighted the importance of defusing tensions with India, the Russian Foreign Ministry issued a statement on Wednesday.

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India announces plans to revoke Jammu and Kashmir’s special status

"The sides discussed the situation in South Asia amid the deterioration between Pakistan and India after New Delhi’s decision on changing the legal status of the Jammu and Kashmir state," the ministry stated.

"The Russian side stressed the need for de-escalating tensions and that there is no alternative to ironing out the differences between Pakistan and India on a bilateral basis by political and diplomatic means," according to the statement.

Russia’s representatives to the United Nations adhere to this consistent position, it said.

On August 5, New Delhi announced that it was revoking Article 370 of the country’s constitution that granted a special status and a degree of autonomy to the state of Jammu and Kashmir, and also breaking the state up into two union territories largely controlled by the central government. Pakistan strongly condemned the move.

Before the constitutional amendments, Jammu and Kashmir — the only Indian state where Muslims constitute a majority — had special autonomy. All bills in this state passed by the central government (except for those related to defense and foreign relations) had to be backed by a local assembly. People from other Indian regions had no right to buy land in Kashmir. The state had its official flag.

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Russian embassy warns UK about dangers of calling for Moscow’s ‘defeat’

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US decision on missile strikes aimed at provoking Russia, expert says

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Residents of Kupyansk, Kovsharovka in Kharkov Region returning to their homes

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Russia to hold informal UN Security Council meeting on unilateral restrictions

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Russia interested in security of Baltic undersea infrastructure — embassy in Denmark

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Sergey Naryshkin observed that the military and political elites in the West are increasingly recognizing the gravity of Russia's intentions and the need for greater caution in their actions

EU considers ICC warrants against Netanyahu, Gallant as binding — foreign policy chief

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Russian forces successfully advancing in all areas in special military op zone — Putin

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Pentagon sees possibility of sending more antipersonnel landmines to Ukraine

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China slams US nuclear policy for undermining global stability

The United States continues to modernize its nuclear triad, Lin Jian noted

US forces strike Houthi sites with seaborne missiles — TV

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Humanitarian crisis in Kiev-controlled Kupyansk district of Kharkov Region near critical

According to Yevgeny Lisnyak, the Ukrainian authorities supply water for a short time, once every three days

US strategic forces ready for Biden-Trump transition — Pentagon

"The nuclear forces is ready on January 19, just like it will be ready on January, 20," Rear Admiral Thomas Buchanan said

West launched missiles targeting Russia’s Bryansk, Kursk Regions — Putin

Russian air defenses repulsed all attacks, the Russian president said

Kremlin condemns report on Storm Shadow missile use against Russian targets as escalation

Dmitry Peskov chose not to respond to a question about whether Russia has proof that UK-made Storm Shadow missiles had been used against it

Decision on strikes inside Russia seals US puppet Zelensky’s fate — commentator

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Ukrainian conflict acquires global elements after strikes with Western missiles — Putin

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US makes mistake by destroying INF Treaty — Putin

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Ukrainian special services assemble unit for sabotage attacks in Kupyansk — official

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US journalist calls US President Joe Biden’s government 'the fascist state'

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Kiev suffering fiasco on entire front line — aide to DPR head

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Russian troops liberate Dalneye community in Donbass region over past day

Russia’s Battlegroup South inflicted roughly 380 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed a British-made howitzer and four US-made artillery guns in its area of responsibility over the past day

Lukashenko tells Putin situation is "starting to get tense with Wagner"

The Belarusian leader noted that they want to go to Warsaw

Ex-German chancellor never expected Russia to tolerate Ukraine’s NATO membership — memoir

Angela Merkel added that another fallacy was the belief that the status "would act as a deterrent," and that Moscow "would accept these developments without taking action"