Pulwama Attack: China Urges India, Pakistan to Exercise Restraint

A stable relationship between India and Pakistan is essential to peace and stability in South Asia, China said.

A stable bilateral relationship between India and Pakistan is essential to peace and stability in South Asia, China said.

(Photo: Altered by The Quint)

China on Tuesday, 19 February, urged India and Pakistan to exercise restraint amid escalating tensions over the Pulwama terror attack and called on both the countries to peacefully resolve their issues through dialogue as soon as possible.

Responding to a question by the media on what role China will play to reduce the escalation between India and Pakistan, Geng Shuang, spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, said: "Pakistan and India are both important countries in South Asia. A stable bilateral relationship between the two is essential to the peace and stability in the region."

"South Asia has maintained an overall stability which should be cherished and upheld by all sides. China hopes that Pakistan and India will exercise restraint, engage in dialogue and realise the soft landing of the relevant issues as soon as possible," he added, as per PTI.

To another question about Saudi Arabia and Pakistan signing a $20 billion agreement for Saudi investments in Pakistan during the just concluded visit of Saudi Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman, Shuang said, "China is glad to see Pakistan having friendly exchanges and cooperation with other countries, including Saudi Arabia."

On the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, Shuang said “It will help with connectivity and shared development. China is ready to on the basis of consultation and consensus with Pakistan have a third party cooperation,” reported PTI.

On 14 February, at least 40 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel were killed in Kashmir's Pulwama district in a suicide attack claimed by Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) terror group.

The attack has heightened bilateral tensions, with both New Delhi and Islamabad calling back their envoys for “consultations.”

India on Friday announced the withdrawal of the Most Favoured Nation status for Pakistan and hiked the customs duty by 200 percent on goods originating from the neighbouring country.

(With inputs from PTI)