Chinese FM speaks with NSA Doval, hopes India, Pakistan will handle differences through dialogue

Beijing/New Delhi: Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi spoke with National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and expressed hope that India and Pakistan will handle differences through dialogue and consultation, and avoid escalation of the situation.

According to the Chinese Foreign Ministry, during the call, Indian NSA Ajit Doval "said that the Pahalgam terrorist attack had caused serious casualties among Indian personnel and that India needed to take counter-terrorism actions.

Doval said: ”War was not India's choice and was not in the interests of any party. India and Pakistan would be committed to a ceasefire and look forward to restoring regional peace and stability as soon as possible."

Wang Yi said that China condemns the Pahalgam terrorist attack and opposes all forms of terrorism. The current international situation is turbulent and intertwined. Peace and stability in the Asian region is hard-won and deserves to be cherished.

“India and Pakistan are neighbours that cannot be moved away, and both are neighbours of China. China appreciates your statement that war is not India's choice, and sincerely hopes that India and Pakistan will remain calm and restrained, properly handle differences through dialogue and consultation, and avoid escalation of the situation.

“China supports and expects India and Pakistan to achieve a comprehensive and lasting ceasefire through consultations. This is in the fundamental interests of India and Pakistan and is also the common wish of the international community,” he added.