Pakistan opposed to terrorism: China

ISLAMABAD: China on Wednesday said that Pakistan is opposed to terrorism and hoped that Pakistan and India would exercise restraint, engage in dialogue and take actions for the peace and stability of the region.

“As two important countries in South Asia, we hope the two countries will exercise restraint, engage in dialogue and take actions for the peace and stability of the region,” Chinese Foreign Ministry’s spokesman Lu Kang said during his regular briefing. When asked to comment on violation of Pakistan’s airspace and territory by the Indian air force, he said, “We have taken note of the relevant development.”

The Chinese side had taken note that both India and Pakistan have stated their positions on the matter, he added. He said both Pakistan and India were important countries in South Asia and hoped that both countries could view this from the larger picture of regional peace and stability, exercise restraint and take measures to engage in dialogue for the peace and stability of the region and benefit of the two countries.

Responding to a question about shooting down of two Indian military aircraft by Pakistan, he said the Chinese side had taken note of the relevant development. “Yes I understand. It is the latest development that Pakistan has shot down two Indian aircraft and may be captured Indian pilots.”

“Well, the international community follows this issue closely,” he added. Lu Kang reiterated that China’s position was clear. India has sought to ease soaring tensions with Pakistan with its foreign minister Sushma Swaraj saying the country does not wish to see further escalation of the situation.

Swaraj who is in China with her counterparts from Beijing and Moscow termed Tuesday s strikes by Indian aircraft within the Pakistani airspace as preemptive and said India will continue to act with responsibility and restraint. “India does not wish to see further escalation of this situation. India will continue to act with responsibility and restraint,” she said.

Pakistan Air Force earlier shot down two Indian jets within its airspace and arrested two Indian pilots, one in an injured condition, the Pakistan military spokesperson said in a press conference hours after the retaliatory action.

A day ago, Indian aircraft had intruded into Pakistani airspace from the Muzaffarabad sector and dropped their payload on what India claimed was a terrorist camp before they were repelled by timely action from the Pakistan Air Force.

PAF shoots down two Indian aircraft inside Pakistani airspace two pilots arrested. The incursion into the Pakistani air space followed a series of threats by Indian political and military leadership after an attack on an Indian Army convoy at Pulwama by a local youth in reaction to the oppression unleashed by the occupational forces.

In Washington, the US has urged Pakistan and India to "exercise restraint and avoid escalation" in tensions at any cost between the two nuclear armed countries.

Secretary of State Michael Pompeo spoke separately with Pakistani and Indian leaders on Tuesday to show concerns about the escalating tensions. He encouraged both sides toprioritise direct communication and avoid further military activity, according to a statement issued later in the evening.

The secretary said that he spoke with Indian Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj to emphasise close security partnership and shared goal of maintaining peace and security in the region. "I also spoke to Pakistani Foreign Minister Qureshi to underscore the priority of de-escalating current tensions to avoiding military action," he said adding that Pakistan take meaningful action against terrorist groups operating on its soil.

"I expressed to both ministers that we encourage India and Pakistan to exercise restraint, and avoid escalation at any cost. I also encouraged both ministers to prioritize direct communication and avoid further military activity," the statement by Secretary Pompeo said.

The statement came hours after Pakistan declared that it reserved the right to respond to Indian air jets violated the country's sovereignty. Last week, President Donald Trump also voiced alarm at the soaring tensions between the two countries. He had called it a "very dangerous situation," asking both the countries to defuse the tensions.

In New York, United Nations (UN) Secretary General Antonio Guterres has appealed to India and Pakistan to exercise maximum restraint in wake of airspace violations by Indian aircraft at the Line of Control (LoC), Radio Pakistan reported.

Briefing the reporters at UN Headquarters, the UN Secretary General’s Spokesman Stephane Dujarric said that Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is closely following the situation.

He said the World Body Chief reiterated his urgent appeal to both the governments of India and Pakistan to exercise maximum restraint to ensure that the situation does not further deteriorate.

Replying to a question about Indian claims of heavy casualties on the Pakistani side, he said that the UN had nothing on it.

Meanwhile, Pakistan s Ambassador to the UN Maleeha Lodhi delivered Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi’s letter addressed to the UN Secretary-General at his office. The Pakistani envoy is also circulating to the UN member states OIC’s condemnation of airspace violations along the LoC by Indian warplanes.

Turkey also announced to stand with Pakistan and its people in the face of Indian aggression and also has opposed the opportunity given to Indian Minister of External Affairs at the upcoming Organization of Islamic Cooperation meeting in Abu Dhabi.

United Kingdom Prime Minister Theresa May on Wednesday urged both Pakistan and India to “exercise restraint” and voiced her concern over the rising tensions between the two nuclear armed neighbours.

She also expressing deep concern by the recent military escalation over the last two days. “We are in regular contact with both countries (Pakistan and India), urging dialogue and diplomatic solutions to ensure regional stability,” says a statement from her office. The British prime minister went on to say that the UK is working closely with international partners through the UN Security Council to de-escalate tensions.