Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Friday said that following the Pulwama terror attack and its aftermath, India and Pakistan should quickly turn the page and convert the present tensions into an opportunity for long term improvement in their relations.
Tensions surged between India and Pakistan after the Indian Air Force carried out aerial strikes at a Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) terror training camp in Balakot. The strikes were in response to the terror attack in Pulwama, in which about 40 CRPF personnel lost their lives.
“China hopes Pakistan and India will transform the crisis into opportunity and meet each other halfway,” Wang said. Wang Yi was replying to questions on the present India-Pakistan tensions and how China plans to carry forward the spirit of last year’s Wuhan summit between Prime Minister and President Xi.
“We advise both the parties to quickly turn the page and seek fundamental, long term improvement in their relations. When confrontation gives way to dialogue and disagreement are settled, we can create a better future through cooperation,” he added.
China’s Vice Foreign Minister Kong Kong Xuanyou went to Pakistan where he held talks with Prime Minister Imran Khan, Army Chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on the current India-Pakistan tensions.
China may take a different stand on Azhar considering the fact that Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) has admitted its role in the Pulwama terror attack, though China has blocked previous attempts to declare Azhar as a global terrorist.
He further added that “In the last couple of days both Pakistan and India indicated a desire to de-escalate the situation and start talks. We welcome this. Pakistan and India are neighbours and always have to live with each other.”