Against a backdrop of mounting tensions and reported ceasefire violations by Pakistan on Saturday, Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi had a telephonic conversation with National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval, asking New Delhi to “avoid aggravating the situation” and to “stay calm and restrained.”
NSA Ajit Doval Speaks with Chinese Minister
In a report by China’s state news agency Xinhua, Wang reaffirmed Beijing’s backing of the recent ceasefire initiative and further stated that China is “willing to continue playing a constructive role” in bringing peace. Wang also separately spoke over the phone with Pakistan’s foreign minister Ishaq Dar, emphasizing Beijing’s concern about further escalation, especially because China shares borders with both nations.
“China supports and expects India and Pakistan to achieve a comprehensive and lasting ceasefire through consultation,” Xinhua quoted Wang as saying during the call with Ajit Doval.
As stated by the Chinese foreign ministry, “Ajit Doval said that the Pahalgam terrorist attack caused serious casualties among Indian personnel and that India needed to take counter-terrorism actions. 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.”
Ceasefire Violations, Growing Tensions in Jammu and Kashmir
Wang condemned the April 22 terror attack, stating: “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.”
Pakistan Breaks Ceasefire and Escalates Tensions
Even before India and Pakistan could celebrate having achieved a ceasefire understanding on Saturday, incidents involving a succession of drone flights followed by blasts hit Jammu and Kashmir, eliciting Indian security forces’ air defence countermeasures to neutralize the air menace.
Authorities took grimly serious views that the two series of happenings in both Kashmir Valley as well as the Jammu zone were signals pointing to Pakistan breaching the just-declared ceasefire.
Jammu and Kashmir CM Responds to Ceasefire Violation
In the midst of the emerging situation, Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah expressed his skepticism on social media about the authenticity of the ceasefire.
“This is no ceasefire. The air defence units in the middle of Srinagar just opened up,” he posted on X. He further questioned the developments, writing, “What the hell just happened to the ceasefire? Explosions heard across Srinagar!!”
Foreign secretary Vikram Misri stated on Saturday that Pakistan had violated the ceasefire within hours of its announcement, prompting the Indian armed forces to respond.
He emphasized that forces had been ordered to take firm action against such breaches. “We call upon Pakistan to take appropriate steps to address these violations and handle the situation with seriousness and responsibility. The armed forces are maintaining a strong vigil on the situation and have been given strict instructions to deal strongly to any repetition of border violations along the International Border and the LoC,” said Vikram Misri.
Drone activities were seen throughout the Valley, and one UAV was intercepted and eliminated over Baramulla town in north Kashmir at about 8.20 pm. Another was shot down in the vicinity of a key Army facility at Anantnag high ground.
Though there was no word yet of cross-Line of Control shelling on the LoC in Kashmir, officials indicated the Jammu sector was tense, indicative of an overall perturbation to the ceasefire agreement.
