Iran Calls for Restraint as India-Pakistan Tension Heightens

The ministry’s spokesman Bahram Qassemi said on Tuesday that the Islamic Republic of Iran calls on the two countries to do more to reduce tension and resolve disputes and problems peacefully through dialogue.

He added that the Islamic Republic of Iran, as one of the victims of terrorism in the world, believes that the only way to fight terrorism and extremism is all-out and unbiased cooperation between all countries of the world.

India on Tuesday confirmed that it has carried out airstrikes in Pakistan. The Indian government said its air force targeted militant camps in the neighbouring country and completely destroyed them. The Pakistani military earlier said Indian aircraft violated the country’s airspace. It claimed the planes released a payload, but there were no casualties or damage.

Last week, Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan authorized the military to respond decisively and comprehensively to any attack by neighbouring India.

Tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbours are high since a car bomb attack by a Pakistan-based militant group in Indian-controlled Kashmir on February 14 killed 40 Indian paramilitary policemen. New Delhi blamed Islamabad for the attack, but Pakistan denied complicity.