Iran offers to mediate between India, Pakistan over Kashmir dispute

NEW DELHI: Iran said on Saturday it was willing to mediate between Islamabad and New Delhi on the issue of Kashmir if both the neighbouring states wanted so.

The offer was made by Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif in New Delhi, who noted that his country enjoyed cordial relations with both Pakistan and India and its bond with both the countries was important.

“We cannot lose that. That bond is too important, both with India and Pakistan. We hope for the best of both countries. If Iran can be of any help, we stand ready, we are not volunteering, we stand ready,” he told Indian media.

"The three countries share common ideas of future democratic international system," he added.

Zarif further voiced Iran's hopes 'to move forward to a better relation between its very dear friends, India and Pakistan'.

The development comes as over 150 Kashmiris have been killed and more than 15,000 injured due to the use of brute force by Indian forces to quell protests that erupted after the killing of Burhan Wani - an iconic pro-independence Kashmiri youth leader - in July, this year.

With the situation tensed in Indian-occupied Kashmir (IoK), there has also been aggressive posturing by India along the Line of Control (LoC) and the Working Boundary causing flare-ups between the two countries.

Indian forces have repeatedly violated the ceasefire agreement resulting in a number of casualties of both civilians and troops on the Pakistani side.

The Indian side, however, has been receiving a matching response by the Pakistan Army and Rangers every time they commit a ceasefire violation.