China offers to mediate between Pakistan and Iran, stresses need for showing calm
Pakistan
Statement comes just hours after strikes on Iran-based terrorists
BEIJING (Web Desk) – China on Thursday said it was willing to mediate between Pakistan and Iran following an exchange of cross-border strikes and urged the two sides to exercise calm and de-escalate the tensions.
“The Chinese side sincerely hopes that the two sides can exercise calm and restraint and avoid an escalation of tension,” foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning told a regular press conference.
“We are also willing to play a constructive role in de-escalating the situation if both sides so wish,” she said.
The remarks come as just hours after Pakistan struck the hideouts of outlawed Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) and Baloch Liberation Front (BLF) in Iran – a move that came in response to the earlier provocative Iranian cross-border missile strike.
The remarks come as just hours after Pakistan struck the hideouts of outlawed Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) and Baloch Liberation Front (BLF) in Iran – a move that came in response to the earlier provocative Iranian cross-border missile strike.
Earlier on Wednesday, China had urged Pakistan and Iran to show "restraint", after Islamabad said Tehran had carried out an air strike on its territory that killed two children.
"We call on both sides to exercise restraint, avoid actions that would lead to an escalation of tension and work together to maintain peace and stability," foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning told a regular briefing.
"We consider both Iran and Pakistan as close neighbours and major Islamic countries," she said.
Pakistan's Balochistan province, as well as Iran's neighbouring Sistan-Baluchistan province, have faced a low-level insurgency by Baloch nationalists for more than two decades. They initially wanted a share of provincial resources, but later initiated an insurgency for independence.
Iran's attack on Pakistan came less than a day after Iranian strikes on northern Iraq that killed several civilians. Iraq recalled its ambassador from Tehran for consultations and summoned Iran’s charge d affaires in Baghdad on Tuesday in protest. Iran separately struck Syria as well.
