Sibel Morrow
27 February 2019•Update: 28 February 2019
ANKARA
The international community on Wednesday voiced concern over the heightened tensions after cross-border air raids between Pakistan and India.
In a statement, French Foreign Ministry called on Pakistan and India to de-escalate tensions "as France is concerned about deterioration of the situation".
In a phone call with Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Iranian Foreign Minister Jawad Zarif expressed his sorrow and urged the two countries to show "common sense".
Earlier, Germany called on both Pakistan and India to de-escalate tensions.
“The federal government makes an urgent appeal for both sides to refrain from steps that could further escalate the conflict,” German Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Adebahr told a news conference in Berlin, adding that India and Pakistan bear responsibility for regional stability.
She expressed hope that the two nuclear neighbors would use existing dialogue channels to de-escalate tensions and find a peaceful solution.
British Prime Minister Theresa May expressed concern urging restraint.
Speaking at a weekly question session in the House of Commons, May said the British government is monitoring developments closely, and they hope tensions can be de-escalated.
The U.K. “urgently calls for restraint on both sides to avoid further escalation,” May said.
Russia, China, Nepal and the U.S., called for India and Pakistan to exercise restraint and dialogue to resolve matters.
Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu called for calm between both countries saying the bone of contention was the Kashmir issue which should be resolved "as soon as possible" within the framework of the international law.
The EU warned Pakistan and India of recent “serious and dangerous consequences” because of heightened tensions.
“Tensions along the 'Line of Control' between India and Pakistan have escalated militarily during the last days,” said EU’s foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini.
“This has the potential to lead to serious and dangerous consequences for the two countries and the wider region.”
Pakistan and India claimed on Wednesday that they had shot down each other’s fighter jets, in a significant escalation between the two countries over Kashmir.
India claimed on Tuesday its warplanes entered Pakistani airspace and bombed a "militant camp," after over 40 Indian troopers were killed in a suicide attack in Indian-administered Kashmir on Feb 14.
The Pakistani civil and military officials have rejected the claims.
