China calls for restraint' after strikes

Beijing: China on Tuesday urged India and Pakistan to “exercise restraint” and asked New Delhi to carry out its fight against terrorism through international cooperation, hours after Indian fighter jets struck Jaish-e-Mohammed’s biggest camp in Pakistan in a pre-dawn attack.

When asked for China’s response to India’s air strikes on terrorist camps in Pakistan, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Lu Kang told the media here that “we have taken note of the relevant reports.”

“I want to say that India and Pakistan are both important countries in South Asia. A sound relationship and cooperation between the two serves the interests of both the countries and peace and stability in South Asia,” he said.

“We hope that both India and Pakistan can exercise restraint and do more to improve their bilateral relations,” he said.

India bombed and destroyed Jaish-e-Mohammed’s biggest training camp in Pakistan early Tuesday, killing a “very large number” of  terrorists, trainers and senior commanders, officials said in New Delhi.

On India’s assertion that it was a “non-military pre-emptive strikes” directed against training camps of the terrorist groups who are carrying out violent acts in India, Lu said, “as for India’s claim on taking action against terrorism, well fighting terrorism is a global practice”.

“It needs necessary international cooperation. India needs to create favourable condition internationally for the same,” he said.

To another question, he said Pakistan foreign minister Shah Muhammad Qureshi has spoken to his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi on the Pulwama terror attack. “During the phone call, Wang listened carefully to Pakistan foreign minister’s notification and proposals on the issues and reaffirmed his opinion that the two sides need to advance their cooperation in the counter terrorism for peace,” the spokesman said.