Islamabad: Beijing called for “Calm and restraint”, and offered to mediate between two countries.

“Chinese side sincerely hopes that two sides can exercise calm and restraint and avoid an escalation of tension,” Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning told regular press conference, adding: “We are also willing to play constructive role in de-escalating situation if both sides so wish.

“ Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson reiterated that it hoped for both parties to resolve their disputes through consultations and dialogue.

United States, which rarely sees eye to eye with Tehran, condemned Iranian strikes in Pakistan, as well as Iraq and Syria.

“I think it is little rich for, on one hand, Iran to be leading funder of terrorism in region, leading funder of instability in region and on other hand, claimed that it needs to take these actions to counter terrorism,” spokesman added. India’s official spokesperson Shri Randhir Jaiswal was neutral in his remarks, saying: “This is matter between Iran and Pakistan.

“Insofar as India is concerned, we have an uncompromising position of zero tolerance towards terrorism. We understand actions that countries take in their self-defense.” Turkiye’s Foreign Ministry called for Iran, Iraq and Pakistan to show “Restraint and common sense”.

“We believe problems should be resolved with an understanding of friendship and brotherhood, based on mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity of countries,” Ministry said in statement.

Additionally, after holding phone calls with counterparts from both countries, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said that neither wants to escalate tensions in region.

Taliban Foreign Ministry, in statement said that two neighbouring countries “Should resolve disputed issues through diplomacy and dialogue”. Russia’s Foreign Ministry called on Iran and Pakistan to show maximum restraint and solve their differences through diplomacy or risk playing into hands of those who would like to see region descend into chaos.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova in statement noted that two countries are part of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, a grouping that Russia helped found.“It is regrettable that this is happening between friendly SCO countries, with which we are developing partnership relations.

European Union said it was deeply worried about “Spiral of violence in Middle East and beyond” after Pakistan and Iran struck each other’s territory.

“These attacks, including in Pakistan in Iraq and Iran now are of utmost concern for European Union because they violate sovereignty and territorial integrity of countries and they have also destabilising effect on the region,” EU spokesman Peter Stano said.

Published in The Daily National Courier, January, 19 2024

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