China on Tuesday urged India and Pakistan to “exerciserestraint” and asked New Delhi to carry out its fight against terrorism throughinternational cooperation, hours after Indian fighter jets struckJaish-e-Mohammed’s biggest camp in Pakistan in a pre-dawn attack.
When asked for China’s response to India’s air strikes oncamps in Pakistan, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang told the mediahere that “we have taken note of the relevant reports”.
“I want to say that India and Pakistan are both importantcountries in South Asia. A sound relationship and cooperation between the twoserves the interests of both the countries and peace and stability in SouthAsia,” he said.
“We hope that both India and Pakistan can exercise restraintand do more to improve their bilateral relations,” he said.
On India’s assertion that it was a “non-military pre-emptivestrike” directed against training camps of the militant groups who are carryingout “violent” acts in India, Lu said, “as for India’s claim on taking actionagainst terrorism, well fighting terrorism is a global practice”.
“It needs necessary international cooperation. India needsto create favourable condition internationally for the same,” he said.
To another question, he said Pakistan foreign minister ShahMuhammad Qureshi has spoken to his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi on the Pulwamaattack in Jammu and Kashmir.
“During the phonecall, Wang listened carefully to Pakistan foreign minister’s notification andproposals on the issues and reaffirmed his opinion that the two sides need toadvance their cooperation in the counter terrorism for peace and stability inthe region,” the spokesman said.
Lu’s comments came ahead of Russia, India and China (RIC)foreign ministers’ meeting at Chinese city of Wuzhen on Wednesday in whichexternal affairs minister Sushma Swaraj is due to take part.
In London, the British government called on India andPakistan to pursue diplomatic solutions in the wake of the Pulwama attack.
UK foreign secretary Jeremy Hunt held telephonicconversations with external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj and Pakistan foreignminister Shah Mehmood Qureshi on Monday, the UK foreign and commonwealth office(FCO) said in a statement.
“The foreign secretary highlighted the UK’s concern aboutthe enduring threat to regional stability from terrorism. He encouragedPakistan and India to improve cooperation and find diplomatic solutions thatwill create greater stability and trust in the region,” the FCO said.
Hunt condemned the Pulwama attack and expressed condolencesto all those affected, it said.
The FCO statement came amid heightened tension between Indiaand Pakistan after the February 14 suicide attack by JeM group that killed 40CRPF soldiers in Pulwama.
The FCO said that the UK minister reiterated with bothIndian and Pakistani counterparts that Britain was committed to working withboth India and Pakistan as well as international partners at the United Nationsto ensure that those responsible for the attack are held to account.
“The UK has been, andcontinues to be, in close contact at senior levels in both countries and willbe promoting international efforts to tackle the threats of terrorism andimprove regional stability,” an FCO spokesperson said.
Hunt had come under pressure in the immediate aftermath ofthe Pulwama attack for referring to “India-administered Kashmir” in his Twitterstatement while expressing his condolences to the victims.
Indian-origin Opposition Labour Party MP Virendra Sharmawrote to him to protest that “Jammu and Kashmir have been an integral part ofthe Indian state” and that the minister’s use of the “deeply offensive” phrasehad upset Indians and British Indians.
“I hope that you will withdraw this phrase and demure fromusing it again in the future due to the connotations this seemingly innocuousphrase contains,” wrote Sharma, Chair of the Indo-British All PartyParliamentary Group (APPG).
His letter was followed by APPG Vice-Chair, ConservativeParty MP Bob Blackman, also writing to the UK foreign secretary to point outhis “factually incorrect” statement on Twitter.
“Your language may offend and again, I suggest retractingthis phrase,” he wrote in the letter, which also asked the minister to clarifythe support the UK is providing to “our friends in India in their ongoingbattle against terrorists”.