China ‘helped defuse Pakistan-India tension’ after Kashmir attack
- Beijing promoted peace talks as New Delhi and Islamabad threatened to fire missiles at each other, Chinese foreign ministry says
China played a “constructive role” in reducing tension between Pakistan and India, the Chinese foreign ministry said, after the nuclear-armed rivals almost came to blows last month following an attack on an Indian paramilitary convoy in disputed Kashmir.
The sparring threatened to spiral out of control and only interventions by US officials, including national security adviser John Bolton, headed off a bigger conflict, five sources familiar with the events said.
A Pakistani minister said China and the United Arab Emirates also intervened to lessen tension between the South Asian neighbours.
In a faxed statement on Monday, responding to a question on China’s role in reining in the crisis, its foreign ministry said peaceful coexistence between Pakistan and India was in everyone’s interest.
“As a friendly neighbour of both India and Pakistan, China proactively promoted peace talks and played a constructive role in easing the tense situation,” it said.