ISLAMABAD, Oct 13: Russia on Monday called on Pakistan and India to resolve the Kashmir dispute through peaceful means and stressed the necessity of a dialogue between the two countries.

According to a press release issued here, Russian State Duma Chairman Gennedy Selezneyev said during talks with National Assembly Speaker Chaudhry Amir Hussain at the Duma on Monday that his country was concerned over the continued problem of Kashmir between India and Pakistan.

He said Russia wanted the return of peace in the region.

He said Russia believed in sovereign equality, it wanted to maintain relations with both the countries and was ready to play its due role in the region.

He said relations between Pakistan and Russia were on track as they had exchanged various delegations since President Gen Pervez Musharraf’s visit to Russia early this year.

He appreciated Pakistan’s role against terrorism and called for concerted joint efforts in the field.

The speaker said Pakistan was against terrorism and condemned it in all its forms and manifestations.