BEIJING – China called on Pakistan and India on Wednesday to “exerciserestraint” and seek dialogue after Islamabad said it shot down two Indianwarplanes in its airspace over disputed Kashmir.

“What we are concerned about is that India and Pakistan, as importantcountries of the South Asian subcontinent, can maintain good neighbourlyand friendly relations,” foreign ministry spokesperson Lu Kang said at aregular press briefing.

“We hope that both India and Pakistan can exercise restraint, takeinitiatives that are conducive to promoting dialogue, meet halfway and makeactive efforts for lasting peace and stability in South Asia,” he said.

The reported downing of the Indian planes ignited fears of an all-outconflict between the nuclear-armed neighbours. It came a day after Indiasaid it had struck militant camps inside Pakistan.

China is one of Pakistan’s closest allies. Beijing has poured billions ofdollars into the South Asian country as part of the China-Pakistan EconomicCorridor (CPEC), a massive infrastructure project that seeks to connect itswestern province of Xinjiang with the Arabian Sea port of Gwadar inBalochistan.

The project is one of the largest in Beijing’s Belt and Road initiative,comprising a network of roads and sea routes involving 65 countries. -APP/AFP