Pak-India escalation: Turkiye backs Pakistan, China voices concern as nations urge restraint

KARACHI: Amid escalating tensions following India’s missile strikes in Pakistan and Azad Kashmir early Wednesday, which targeted civilians, and Pakistan’s retaliation -- including the downing of five Indian Air Force aircraft -- calls for restraint were growing from across the world.Turkey expressed solidarity with Pakistan, while China expressed regret and concern over Indian strikes on Pakistan, and US President Donald Trump called for both neighbours to immediately halt their fighting. Afghanistan’s Taliban government also warned that further escalation was not “in the interest of the region”.

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan spoke by phone on Wednesday with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to convey his solidarity, the Turkish presidency said.

During the call, Erdogan told Sharif that Turkey supported what he called Pakistan’s “calm and restrained policies” in the crisis, his office said in a statement.

Erdogan also said he found “appropriate” Islamabad’s call for an investigation into Pahalgam attack. “Erdogan stated that Turkey was ready to do what it can to prevent the tensions from escalating, and that his diplomatic contacts in that regard would continue,” it said.

Turkey has previously condemned India’s attack and called on both sides to act with common sense. Turkey’s Foreign Ministry said the latest military action by India created the risk of an “all-out war”.

While China expressed regret and concern over Indian strikes on Pakistan, urging both sides to show restraint. China said it expressed “regret over India’s military action this morning” and said it was “concerned about the current developments”.

“India and Pakistan are neighbours that cannot be moved apart, and they are also China’s neighbours,” a foreign ministry spokesperson said in a statement. “China opposes all forms of terrorism,” they said. “We call on both India and Pakistan to prioritise peace and stability, remain calm and restrained and avoid taking actions that further complicate the situation,” the spokesperson added.

At a briefing on Wednesday, Beijing also offered to play a mediating role in reducing tensions. “We are willing to work together with the international community and continue to play a constructive role in easing the current tensions,” foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian said.

Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump called for India and Pakistan to immediately halt their fighting, and offered to help end the worst violence between the nuclear-armed countries in two decades. “It’s so terrible,” Trump said at the White House. “I get along with both, I know both very well, and I want to see them work it out. I want to see them stop. “They’ve gone tit-for-tat, so hopefully they can stop now.” “We get along with both countries very well, good relationships with both, and I want to see it stop,” Trump said in the Oval Office. “And if I can do anything to help, I will be there.”

While Afghanistan’s Taliban government warned India and Pakistan that further escalation was not “in the interest of the region”. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement on the social media platform X that “it urges both sides to exercise restraint and resolve their issues through dialogue and diplomacy”.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer urged “dialogue” and “de-escalation”. “Rising tensions between India and Pakistan will be of serious concern for many across Britain,” he told parliament. “We are engaging urgently with both countries, as well as other international partners, encouraging dialogue, de-escalation and the protection of civilians,” he added. Foreign Secretary David Lammy also called for “restraint” between the two nuclear-armed neighbours. “The UK government is urging India and Pakistan to show restraint and engage in direct dialogue to find a swift, diplomatic path forward,” he said in a statement. Another minister, Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds, told BBC radio the UK stood ready to support both India and Pakistan in the de-escalation of the tensions.

The spokesman for UN chief Antonio Guterres said: “The Secretary-General is very concerned about the Indian military operations across the Line of Control and international border. He calls for maximum military restraint from both countries.” “The world cannot afford a military confrontation between India and Pakistan.”

While the European Commission foreign affairs spokesman Anouar El Anouni said: “We do urge both sides to show restraint and take immediate steps towards de-escalation.” The spokesperson added: “The EU recalls the need for a negotiated, agreed and lasting, peaceful solution to the conflict.”

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot, told TF1 television: “We understand India’s desire to protect itself against the scourge of terrorism, but we obviously call on both India and Pakistan to exercise restraint to avoid escalation and, of course, to protect civilians.”

Germany Chancellor Friedrich Merz in a joint news conference with French President Emmanuel Macron said, “We are deeply worried by last night’s clashes between these two nuclear powers.” The Chancellor added: “Now more than ever ... reason and clear-headedness are required.”

Russia’s foreign ministry said it was “deeply concerned by the escalation of military confrontation” and called “on the parties to exercise restraint to prevent further deterioration”. It hoped tensions could be “resolved through peaceful, diplomatic means”.