China on Sunday backed Pakistan’s call for an independent and fair probe into the Pahalgam attack in India-held Kashmir, stressing that conflict does not benefit regional peace and stability.
“China advocates for a swift and fair investigation and believes that conflict does not serve the fundamental interests of either India or Pakistan, nor does it benefit regional peace and stability,” the Xinhua news agency quoted Chinese Foreign Minister Wang YI as telling Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar during a call.
On Saturday, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had reiterated that Pakistan is willing to cooperate with any independent and impartial probe into the Pahalgam attack. He had stressed that Pakistan desires peace, but this should not be construed as weakness, warning that any attempt to target the country would be met with full force.
In their call, the Chinese foreign minister told Dar that Beijing is paying close attention to the evolving situation between Pakistan and India. He also reaffirmed China’s consistent support for Pakistan’s firm counterterrorism efforts.
“As an ironclad friend and an all-weather strategic cooperative partner, China fully understands Pakistan’s legitimate security concerns and supports Pakistan in safeguarding its sovereignty and security interests,” said Wang. He hoped both sides would exercise restrained, move toward each other, and work together to de-escalate the situation.
Another call
The deputy prime minister also spoke to his counterpart from the U.K., stressing Islamabad’s unwavering resolve to defend its national interests while continuing to promote peace and stability in the region.
In a statement, the Foreign Office said Dar had briefed David Lammy about “India’s false accusations, baseless propaganda, and unilateral measures.” It said the U.K. foreign secretary emphasized the importance of de-escalating the situation through dialogue and peaceful resolution of issues.
Appreciating these efforts, the foreign minister conveyed Pakistan’s readiness to participate in any independent and transparent investigation to ascertain the facts. Both leaders agreed to maintain active contact regarding the evolving situation.
Last week’s terrorist attack at Pahalgam in India-held Kashmir left 26 people dead. Delhi has blamed Pakistan despite Islamabad vehemently denying any involvement. Following the attack, Delhi scaled down diplomatic ties with Islamabad and unilaterally suspended the Indus Waters Treaty, with Pakistan warning that any attempt to divert its waters would be considered a declaration of war.