Daijiworld Media Network - Tehran
Tehran, Apr 26: In the wake of the deadly terror attack in Pahalgam that claimed 26 civilian lives, Iran on Friday offered to mediate between India and Pakistan to ease escalating tensions. The offer came even as Saudi Arabia engaged diplomatically with both countries to prevent further deterioration of ties.
"Iran considers India and Pakistan as brotherly neighbours with relations rooted in centuries-old cultural and civilizational ties. They remain our foremost priority," Iranian foreign minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi posted on X, offering Tehran’s ‘good offices’ to promote dialogue at this critical juncture. Quoting Persian poet Saadi, Araghchi highlighted the shared human spirit, underlining the urgency of peaceful engagement.
Earlier, Iran had strongly condemned the April 23 Pahalgam attack, describing it as a ‘grave crime,’ and called for global coordination to combat terrorism. Tehran expressed condolences to the victims and stressed that perpetrators and sponsors must be brought to justice.
Meanwhile, Saudi foreign minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud held separate telephonic conversations with Indian external affairs minister S Jaishankar and his Pakistani counterpart Mohammad Ishaq Dar.
"Had a telecon with Foreign Minister @FaisalbinFarhan of Saudi Arabia. Discussed the Pahalgam terrorist attack and its cross-border linkages," Jaishankar said in a post on X.
Pakistan’s foreign office confirmed that Prince Faisal also spoke to Dar, who briefed him on Pakistan's response after what Islamabad termed “unilateral” Indian actions. Dar cautioned against further escalation and warned that Pakistan would "respond firmly to any aggression."
The diplomatic outreach comes against a backdrop of swift retaliatory steps taken by both sides. India suspended the Indus Waters Treaty, shut the Attari border crossing, and downgraded diplomatic ties with Pakistan. In response, Pakistan closed its airspace to Indian carriers and halted all trade, including via indirect routes, warning that any attempt to block water flows would be treated as an "act of war."
Addressing a rally in Bihar's Madhubani on Thursday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared that India would track down and punish every terrorist and their backers responsible for the Pahalgam attack.
"Friends, today from the soil of Bihar, I say to the whole world India will identify, track, and punish every terrorist and their backers," he said. "We will pursue them to the ends of the earth. India's spirit will never be broken by terrorism. Terrorism will not go unpunished," Modi asserted.