Top pick: China asks India, Pakistan to exercise restraint amid escaltion of tension following Pahalgam terror attack

China asks India, Pakistan to exercise restraint amid escalation of tension following Pahalgam terror attack

Just Earth News | @justearthnews | 28 Apr 2025

China asks India, Pakistan to exercise restraint amid escalation of tension following Pahalgam terror attack

Indian Army soldiers. Photo Courtesy: Chinar Corps X handle

The Chinese government on  Monday asked India and Pakistan to 'exercise restraint' after the two countries exchanged fire at the Line of Control following the deadly terror strike in Pahalgam town in Jammu and Kashmir which left 26 people dead.

Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun told reporters: "China welcomes all measures that will help cool down the current situation and supports carrying out fair and just investigations at an early date."

"As the neighbor of both India and Pakistan, China hopes that India and Pakistan will exercise restraint, work in the same direction, handle relevant differences properly through dialogue and consultation, and jointly uphold peace and stability in the region," he said.

Ceasefire Violations

Pakistan violated the ceasefire on the Line of Control (LoC) in areas located opposite to Kupwara and Poonch for the fourth consecutive day on Sunday.

The Indian Army said it responded swiftly and effectively following the Pakistani firing.

"During the night of 27-28 April 2025, Pakistan Army posts initiated unprovoked small arms fire across LoC in areas opposite Kupwara & Poonch districts. Indian troops responded swiftly and effectively," the Indian Army said in a statement as quoted by Hindustan Times.

Following the April 22 attack, Indian security forces have intensified actions to nab those behind the strike.

In an attempt to curb terrorism and dismantle its infrastructure, security forces have bombed the houses of several terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir in the past few days.

Pahalgam Terror Strike

Twenty-six people, including 23 Hindu male tourists, were killed by terrorists in Baisaran meadows, a popular destination in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam, on April 22.

The terrorists- belonging to The Resistance Front (TRF), which is an offshoot of Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT)- asked the victims to chant Islamic verses (kalma) and made them pull down their pants to be sure of their their non-Muslim religious identities (read circumcision)  before gunning them down before their families, including wives, children and daughters.

The massacre triggered a nationwide outrage and escalated India-Pakistan tensions as New Delhi vowed to avenge the killings.

In an immediate response  India suspended the landmark Indus River water-sharing treaty and closed the Attari-Wagah road border which acts a lifeline of Indo-Pak trade and people-to-people ties, besides expelling diplomats, downsizing high commissions and issuing a 48-hour deadline to Pakistani visa holders present in India to leave.