BEIJING: China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said on Thursday that Beijing is ready to work with the rest of the international community to continue playing a constructive role in easing the tensions between Pakistan and India.
The spokesperson said that China is concerned about the current developments between India and Pakistan and urges both sides to act in the larger interest of peace and stability.
“We have shared China’s position yesterday on the ongoing situation between India and Pakistan. China is concerned over the current developments,” Lin Jian said during his routine briefing.
He said that India and Pakistan are and will always be each other’s neighbours. “They are both China’s neighbours as well. China opposes all forms of terrorism,” the spokesperson said.
“We urge both sides to act in the larger interest of peace and stability, observe international law, including the UN Charter, remain calm, exercise restraint and refrain from taking actions that may further complicate the situation,” he added.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, in a telephone conversation with Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday, said that the US is closely following the situation in South Asia.
Rubio reaffirmed Washington’s commitment to peace and stability in the region, according to a press release from the Prime Minister’s Office.
Secretary Rubio urged both Pakistan and India to work together to de-escalate the situation, the statement said.
India’s attack kills 31 Pakistani civilians
Late on Tuesday, India launched air strikes targeting different cities in Pakistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
Pakistan’s military said India targeted six locations, and at least 31 civilians were killed and 57 others injured in the strikes and cross-border firing along the Line of Control.
The Pakistan armed forces shot down five Indian Air Force (IAF) jets, a combat drone, and destroyed brigade headquarters, including a number of check posts along the LoC, after New Delhi carried out missile strikes in cities of Punjab and AJK, DG ISPR Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry confirmed.
In a press briefing, DG ISPR said Kotli, Muzaffarabad, Ahmedpur Sharqia Bagh and Muridke were hit by Indian missiles. The DG ISPR said that the “cowardly” act will not go unpunished.
In an interview with CNN, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif stated that Indian media has itself admitted the crash of three aircraft in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
“The Indian strikes targeted civilians, including women and children, which is a blatant violation of international law,” the Defence Minister added.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, in an address to the nation following India’s recent act of aggression, called it a “grave mistake” that will not go unpunished.
Pakistan armed forces down 29 Indian drones
Pakistan military’s media wing, ISPR, on Thursday said that Pakistan’s Armed Forces have successfully shot down 29 Israeli-manufactured Harop drones launched from India, using both soft-kill (technical) and hard-kill (weapons) measures.
According to ISPR, India resorted to these drone attacks in a state of panic following the destruction of five of its modern aircraft, drones, multiple posts, and casualties in its ranks during its cowardly assault on May 6–7.
“So far, 29 Israel-made Harop drones have been shot down by Pakistan’s Armed Forces’ soft kill (technical) and hard kill (weapons) measures,” a statement issued by the ISPR said.
The ISPR said that after Pakistan brought down five modern fighter aircraft and drones and destroyed several posts, causing military casualties, India was attacking Pakistan with Israel-made Harop drones in panic.
“This cowardly attack is a sign of India’s panic and anxiety. India has also suffered and is suffering heavy losses on the Line of Control. Wreckage of Israel-made Harop drones is being recovered from various areas of Pakistan. Pakistan forces are giving a befitting reply to the enemy and are destroying all his intentions,” the statement read.
