China on Wednesday called for restraint from both India and Pakistan following India’s military strikes on terror camps located in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), amid escalating tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.
India launched the missile strikes early Wednesday as part of ‘Operation Sindoor’, a coordinated response to the 22 April terrorist attack in Pahalgam that killed 25 Indian nationals and one Nepali citizen.
In a statement, China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said, “China expresses regret over India’s military actions this morning and is concerned about the current developments. China opposes all forms of terrorism. We call on both India and Pakistan to prioritise peace and stability, remain calm and restrained, and avoid taking actions that further complicate the situation.”
Beijing also reiterated its longstanding position that India and Pakistan are permanent neighbours, and stressed its interest in maintaining regional harmony. “India and Pakistan are and will always be each other’s neighbours. They’re both China’s neighbours as well,” the statement added.
India’s missile strikes, described as pre-emptive and precision-based, reportedly hit nine terror infrastructure targets—four in undisputed Pakistani territory and five in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
Among them were high-value locations in Bahawalpur and Muridke, believed to house key leadership of Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), groups blamed for numerous attacks in India.
India’s Ministry of Defence stated, “A little while ago, the Indian Armed Forces launched ‘Operation Sindoor’, hitting terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir from where terrorist attacks against India have been planned and directed.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi was reportedly monitoring the operation throughout the night. According to official sources, the strikes were jointly carried out by the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force using special precision munitions.
In response to the Indian strikes, Pakistani forces engaged in heavy shelling across several sectors along the Line of Control (LoC), raising fears of further escalation.
International observers, including the United Nations, have expressed concern. UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said the Secretary-General is “closely following developments and urges both countries to exercise maximum restraint”.
India has justified the strikes as necessary in the wake of the Pahalgam attack, which it blames on cross-border terrorist groups operating with impunity from Pakistani soil. Pakistan has yet to release an official response beyond military movements along the LoC.
India has long maintained that Pakistan provides safe haven to terrorist groups targeting Indian civilians and soldiers. While Islamabad denies direct involvement, New Delhi insists the continued existence of terror infrastructure across the border represents a persistent security threat.
China’s response, though measured, reflects broader geopolitical concerns. While it condemns terrorism, Beijing also maintains close ties with Islamabad and has strategic investments in the region through the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
The strikes mark India’s most significant military action inside Pakistani territory since the 1971 war, underscoring a shift in India’s counter-terror doctrine.
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