India and Pakistan need to keep a lid on conflict

The ongoing conflict between India and Pakistan does not serve any party's interest. Both New Delhi and Islamabad, as Beijing urged, should remain calm, exercise restraint and refrain from taking actions that may further complicate the situation,

In reply to a media query concerning India's military strikes on targets in Pakistan on Wednesday, which was met with a strong response from Pakistan, a spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry said India's military operation is regrettable and China is concerned about the situation.

Tensions between India and Pakistan have escalated following a deadly attack on tourists in Pahalgam in Indian-controlled Kashmir on April 22.

India and Pakistan are, and always will be, each other's neighbors, and they are both China's neighbors, said the spokesperson, noting that China opposes all forms of terrorism and both sides should "act in the larger interest of peace and stability".

In a similar message, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for military restraint from India and Pakistan on Tuesday.

In a note to correspondents issued by his spokesperson, the UN chief expressed deep concern over Indian military operations across the Line of Control and the international border with Pakistan. "The world cannot afford a military confrontation between India and Pakistan," the note said.

On Monday, the UN secretary-general warned that the tensions between the two South Asian neighbors had reached "their highest in years", stressing that "a military solution is no solution". "Targeting civilians is unacceptable — and those responsible must be brought to justice through credible and lawful means," the UN chief said.

As some observers point out, India's Narendra Modi government seems to be applying extreme pressure tactics. Despite this, New Delhi apparently doesn't want to have full-scale war with its archrival in South Asia. By carrying out the air strikes, it intends to vent domestic anger in India over the terrorist attacks.

That explains the wording of the statement put out by India's Ministry of Defense. On the one hand, it said that the air strikes were very successful; on the other, it stated that its action was very restrained and it did not attack any Pakistani military facilities as it did not want to escalate the situation. Although India is the major victim of the April 22 terrorist attacks, and it has a stronger comprehensive national strength than Pakistan and has more cards to play in the conflict, it should realize that none of these justifies it starting a conflict as such with its neighbor, which is a nuclear power as well. India's conflict with Pakistan, if unchecked, will only make the situation more volatile, complex and chaotic, which serves no party's interest but only that of the terrorists.

Before India and Pakistan acquired nuclear weapons, three large-scale wars had already broken out between them. If the current conflict turns into a war, it will undoubtedly be a disaster for not only the two countries but also the whole region, home to about 2.04 billion people.

Conflict and friction will obviously continue for some time, heightening regional tensions. Since the conflict is on China's doorstep, and both India and Pakistan are China's neighbors, China urges both sides to practice restraint, and take concrete actions to de-escalate the tensions for their common interest in the long run.

They should prevent the conflict from triggering a chain reaction in the regional situation that has largely remained stable these years thanks to all parties' joint efforts dedicated to development and stability.