Moscow: Welcoming the recent thaw in India-Pakistan ties, Russia has expressed its support to the efforts made by leaders from both countries to create a conducive atmosphere to resolve bilateral issues on basis of the Simla accord and the Lahore Declaration.

The situation in South Asia was among the issues discussed by Russian First Deputy Foreign Minister Vyacheslav Trubnikov at his meeting with the Pakistani Ambassador Iftikhar Murshed yesterday (Dec 25, 2003).

"In the course of discussions on the situation in South Asia the Russian side backed the efforts of the leadership of India and Pakistan aimed at strengthening mutual trust for the creation of favourable conditions for resolving outstanding bilateral issues on the basis of Simla accord and Lahore Declaration," Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

"Special attention was paid to the problems of countering terrorism, religious extremism and other new global challenges," it said, adding both the sides expressed their mutual interest in launching an effective interaction in this field.