Exercise restraint: EU and Switzerland to India, Pak amid tensions over J&K attack

The European Union (EU) and Switzerland on Friday highlighted the escalating tensions between India and Pakistan and urged both countries to exercise restraint in the wake of last month's terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam.

EU's foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas spoke to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Pakistan Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and urged both of them to exercise restraint as escalation "helps no one".

"Rising tensions between India and Pakistan are alarming. I urge both sides to show restraint and pursue dialogue to ease the situation. Escalation helps no one. I spoke to both @DrSJaishankar and @MIshaqDar50 today to convey these messages," Kallas wrote.

On his part, Jaishankar said he discussed the Pahalgam terror attack with Kallas.

"Good to speak with EU HRVP @kajakallas this evening. Discussed the Pahalgam terrorist attack. Welcome European Union’s strong condemnation of terrorism in all forms and manifestations," he tweeted.

However, Dar flagged what he claimed "India's baseless accusations and inflammatory propaganda" over the Pahalgam attack, according to a statement by the Pakistani Foreign Ministry. He expressed concern over India's decision to pause the Indus Waters Treaty and reiterated a "neutral and transparent" probe into the attack, it said.

Kallas then urged Dar that both India and Pakistan should exercise restraint and underscored the importance of dialogue to maintain peace and stability in the region, the Pakistani Foreign Ministry added.

SWISS FOREIGN MINISTER DIALS JAISHANKAR

Meanwhile, Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis condemned the Pahalgam terror attack, which claimed 26 lives, and called for restraint between India and Pakistan to avoid regional escalation.

"In a conversation with my Indian colleague @DrSJaishankar following the tragic attack in #Pahalgam, I reiterated #Switzerland’s condemnation, expressed condolences to the victims’ families, and called for restraint to avoid regional escalation," he wrote on X.

Jaishankar thanked his Swiss counterpart for his support and solidarity and said both sides agreed on zero tolerance for terrorism.

"Appreciate the telecon with Federal Councilor @ignaziocassis of Switzerland. Thanked him for his support and solidarity. We agreed on zero tolerance for terrorism," he tweeted.

Several countries, including the US, have urged India and Pakistan to de-escalate tensions to avoid a broader regional conflict in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack.

India has been reaching out to several countries and briefed their leaders and ambassadors on the Pahalgam attack, the worst such assault since the attack on CRPF personnel in Pulwama in 2019.

ABOUT PAHALGAM TERROR ATTACK

On April 22, terrorists opened fire on a group of tourists visiting the Baisaran valley, a meadow which is accessible only by foot or horseback. In the process, 26 people, including a Nepali national, were killed in the carnage.

Terrorists singled out non-Muslim tourists and shot them at point-blank range after being asked to recite the Kalma, or the Islamic declaration of faith, preliminary investigation revealed.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who has held a flurry of key security and cabinet meetings this week, has vowed that his government will hunt down the terrorists involved in the Pahalgam attack.

India downgraded diplomatic ties with Pakistan and took a flurry of measures, including the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, cancelling all visas issued to Pakistani nationals and shutting airspace to Pakistani airlines.

On the other hand, Pakistan, fearing Indian retaliation, has announced tit-for-tit measures and suspended the Simla Agreement. It has also vowed to respond to what it calls "Indian misadventure and aggression".