Key points
- Violence worst to erupt between arch-foes in two decades
- British nationals advised against travel within 8km of India-Pakistan border
- Around 26 civilians including women and children killed in Indian airstrikes on Pakistan
ISLAMABAD: India’s airstrikes on civilian populations in Pakistan and Pakistan’s retaliatory strikes prompted concern and calls for restraint from around the world on Wednesday with France and UK offering help in defusing tensions.
The violence was the worst to erupt between the nuclear-armed neighbours and arch-foes in two decades.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said in an interview on TF1 television that they “call on both India and Pakistan to exercise restraint to avoid escalation and, of course, to protect civilians.”
“De-escalation”
“Our message would be that we are a friend, a partner to both countries. We stand ready to support both countries. Both have a huge interest in regional stability, in dialogue, in de-escalation and anything we can do to support that, we are here and willing to do,” UK Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said told BBC radio.
The British foreign office advised British nationals against travel within eight kilometres (five miles) of the India-Pakistan border, within 16 kilometres of the Line of Control — a heavily fortified zone of high-altitude Himalayan outposts that represents the de facto Kashmir border — and all travel to the southwestern Balochistan province of Pakistan.
Travel advisory
“We are continuing to monitor the situation closely. British nationals should stay up to date with our travel advice and follow the advice of local authorities,” it added.
Previously, Russia’s foreign ministry said it was “deeply concerned by the escalation of military confrontation”, called “on the parties to exercise restraint to prevent further deterioration” and said it hoped tensions could be “resolved through peaceful, diplomatic means.”
