International community calls for calm after escalating Pakistan-India tensions
AFP:
Web Desk:India carried out missile strikes in the Pakistani cities of Punjab and Azad Kashmir on Wednesday and the Pakistan armed forces, in retaliatory strikes, shot down five Indian Air Force (IAF) jets, a drone and destroyed brigade headquarters following the attack.
Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director-General Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry confirmed that all Pakistan Air Force jets are safe after engaging Indian jets.
Among the destroyed Indian Air Force (IAF) jets are three French-made Rafales, one Su30MKI and one MIG-29 Fulcrum, confirmed a military spokesperson to Reuters.
Following the escalating aggression between both the countries after India’s attack, world leaders, UN officials and International Community have expressed deep concerns.
Trump terms rising tensions a ‘shame’
US President Donald Trump said he hoped clashes between nuclear-armed India and Pakistan end “very quickly,” after New Delhi’s forces launched strikes and Islamabad vowed retaliation.
He termed rising tension between India and Pakistan a “shame”.
“It’s a shame, we just heard about it,” Trump said at the White House.
“I guess people knew something was going to happen based on the past. They’ve been fighting for many, many decades and centuries, actually, if you really think about it,” he added.
“I just hope it ends very quickly,” said Trump.
“We continue to urge Pakistan and India to work towards a responsible resolution that maintains long-term peace and regional stability in South Asia,” State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce told reporters.
Both sides should engage in discussions, says Rubio
Additionally, Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke with his counterparts from India and Pakistan, encouraging both sides to engage in discussions to settle an escalating military confrontation, the White House said Tuesday.
“He is encouraging India and Pakistan to re-open a channel between their leadership to defuse the situation and prevent further escalation,” said US National Security Council spokesperson Brian Hughes in a statement, after India carried out air strikes on Pakistani soil.
UN chief ‘very concerned’
Moreover, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres was “very concerned” about Indian military strikes on Pakistan, his spokesperson said on Tuesday, hours after India said it hit nine sites in Pakistani territory.
“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,” said spokesperson Stephane Dujarric.
China urges both sides to exercise restraint
Additionally, China called on both India and Pakistan to exercise restraint and put peace and stability first, its foreign ministry said in response to the military escalation between the South Asian countries.
The Chinese ministry said in a statement it regrets India’s military action and is concerned about the current situation.
Turkey expresses solidarity with Pakistan
Meanwhile, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan contacted his Pakistani counterpart Ishaq Dar by telephone to express solidarity over India’s unprovoked aggression, the Foreign Office said on Tuesday.
According to FO spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan, Fidan conveyed deep concern over the worsening regional security situation. Both ministers agreed to stay in close contact as developments unfold.
Russia urges both sides to show restraint
Furthermore, Russia’s foreign ministry said on Wednesday that it was deeply concerned about the deepening military confrontation between India and Pakistan, and that it called for both countries to show restraint.
Russia has warm relations with both India and Pakistan.
India and Pakistan have fought three full-scale wars since gaining independence from the British in 1947.
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