Duma Deputy In Favour Of Russian Involvement To End Indo-pakistani Stand-off

Konstantin Kosachyov, first deputy leader of the Fatherland - All Russia State Duma faction, told RIA Novosti on Friday that he was in favour of Russia becoming involved "as soon as possible" in efforts to end the current Indo-Pakistani conflict. The deputy said that the border between the two countries, which both have nuclear weapons, was potentially the hottest of all hot spots. In his opinion, Moscow should use every lever of influence so that the recent handshake between Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf "does not become a profanation." At the same time, the deputy refrained from supporting one side in the conflict. Kosachyov said that this region was the most dangerous in the world, especially as both sides in the conflict possessed "the nuclear tomahawk."