Pahalgam terror attack: China’s Wang Yi speaks to Pak counterpart, backs ‘impartial’ probe

“As an ironclad friend and all-weather strategic cooperative partner”, China fully understands Pakistan’s “legitimate security concerns” and supports its efforts to uphold its sovereignty and security interests, Wang was quoted as saying by the state-run Global Times.

“China supports the prompt initiation of an impartial investigation, emphasizing that conflict serves neither the fundamental interests of India and Pakistan nor regional peace and stability, Wang said, noting that Beijing hopes both sides will exercise restraint, move toward each other, and work to de-escalate tensions,” the Global Times reported on Sunday.

During the call, Dar “briefed on the latest developments regarding tensions between Pakistan and India following the terrorist attack in the Kashmir region, stating that Pakistan has always been resolute in combating terrorism and opposes actions that could escalate tensions,” it said.

Pakistan remains committed to managing the situation through a mature approach and will maintain communication with China and the international community, he said, according to the report.

Wang stated that “China is closely following the evolving situation”.

“Combating terrorism constitutes a shared responsibility of all nations, and China consistently supports Pakistan’s firm counter-terrorism actions”, Wang was quoted as saying.

Shehbaz Sharif’s is the first “offer” from Islamabad and comes at a time when India has underlined the “cross-border” links to the attack.

According to a report by The Indian Express, India has told foreign governments that it has a blend of “technical intelligence” and “credible inputs” confirming the link between Pakistan and the terrorists who killed 26 people: 25 Indians and one Nepalese citizen.

(PTI adds: In a recent interview to Russian government-run RIA Novosti news agency, Pakistani Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said: “I think Russia or China or even Western countries can play a very, very positive role in this crisis and they can even set up an investigation team that should be assigned this job to investigate whether India or Modi is lying or he is telling the truth. Let an international team find out.”)

Sharif, in a speech to the passing-out parade of army-cadets at Pakistan Military Academy in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa’s Kakul, had said on Saturday: “The recent tragedy in Pahalgam is yet another example of this perpetual blame game which must come to a grinding halt. And now continuing with its role as a responsible country, Pakistan is open to participate in any neutral, transparent and credible investigation”.

The event was attended by senior military officers and Sharif was seen speaking from a prepared text – an indication that the speech was prepared, vetted and sanctioned by the Pakistan establishment.

This is not the first time Pakistan has offered to “participate” in investigations.

After the 2008 serial attacks in Mumbai in which 166 civilians were killed, Pakistan’s then President Asif Ali Zardari had offered to cooperate with India on the probe. Pakistan did so again after the January 2016 Pathankot attack (in which eight Army personnel and the four terrorists were killed). A team of Pakistan investigators and officials had visited the Pathankot airbase.

After the Uri attack in September 2016, in which 19 Army personnel were killed, Pakistan had also suggested a joint probe.

Three years later, following the Pulwama terror attack in 2019 in which 40 CRPF personnel were killed, former Pakistan PM Imran Khan had claimed that Pakistan was ready to cooperate in the Indian investigation and would take action if Delhi provides any “actionable intelligence”.