ISLAMABAD: The international community has expressed deep concern over escalating tensions between India and Pakistan following Indian air strikes inside Pakistani territory, calling for immediate restraint and urging both nuclear-armed neighbours to de-escalate.
Pakistan has strongly condemned what it termed as “unprovoked and unlawful” Indian military aggression across six locations in Pakistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir, warning that India’s “extremist actions” pose a grave threat to peace and stability in South Asia.
Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari, in a meeting with Italy’s Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi, said the extremist Indian regime had jeopardised regional stability through blatant military aggression, targeting innocent civilians, including women and children.
“Such hostility will have dangerous consequences for the entire region,” the president warned, reiterating Pakistan’s commitment to peaceful coexistence while asserting the right to self-defence.
The crisis has drawn serious international attention, with Pakistan engaging global stakeholders to highlight the loss of civilian lives and the violation of its sovereignty.
Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar briefed the visiting Italian minister and also held a telephone conversation with Spain’s Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares.
Dar highlighted that the Indian strikes were a clear breach of international law and Pakistan’s sovereignty.
He stressed that such provocations threaten regional strategic stability and demanded accountability.
The Spanish minister expressed condolences and offered Spain’s support in facilitating diplomatic dialogue through multilateral platforms.
Meanwhile in London, Pakistan’s Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb informed UK Minister of State for South Asia Hamish Falconer that 26 civilians, including women and children, were martyred and 46 injured in the Indian attacks.
He emphasised that Pakistan had extended multiple offers to India for an impartial investigation into the Pahalgam incident, however, New Delhi is yet to respond.
Falconer conveyed sympathy for the victims and expressed hope for de-escalation through dialogue.
US President Donald Trump said he hoped the situation “ends very quickly,” while US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and other officials stressed restraint and engagement.
The United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres also voiced alarm, calling for maximum restraint and stating that the world cannot afford a military confrontation between the nuclear-armed neighbours.
China’s Ambassador to Pakistan Jiang Zaidong met Foreign Minister Dar and affirmed close coordination between the two countries amid regional developments.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi met Acting US Ambassador Natalie Baker in Islamabad and conveyed Pakistan’s deep concern over India’s strikes.
“India has torn apart regional harmony and blatantly violated international law by targeting civilians,” he said, reaffirming Pakistan’s firm resolve to defend its sovereignty.
Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned the Indian Charge d’Affaires and conveyed a formal protest.
The Indian aggression, Pakistan said, is a blatant violation of the UN Charter and international norms. India was warned that its reckless behaviour could lead to dangerous consequences for the region.
In a briefing to the media, DG ISPR Lt. Gen. Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said India launched air, missile and drone strikes on six civilian targets, including mosques, in Punjab and Azad Kashmir.
“India, once again showing cowardice, attacked under the cover of darkness,” he said, adding that 13 people, including two girls, were martyred at a mosque in Ahmedpur East.
Other attacks in Muzaffarabad, Kotli, and Muridke claimed further lives. He confirmed Pakistan’s armed forces responded swiftly, shooting down five Indian fighter jets and one drone.
“Pakistan exercised restraint but responded decisively. No Pakistani aircraft crossed Indian airspace, nor did any Indian plane enter ours after their failed attack,” he said, describing India’s targeting of worship places as a reflection of the Modi government’s growing Hindutva ideology.
The National Security Committee (NSC), chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, authorised Pakistan’s Armed Forces to respond “at a time, place and manner of its choosing.”
The NSC declared India’s actions as acts of war and called upon the international community to hold India accountable.
