(Adnkronos) – Italy is aiming to de-escalate the military clashes between nuclear-armed neighbours India and Pakistan, which have spiralled this week since India struck nine alleged terrorist bases in Pakistani territory in response a deadly attack on Hindu tourists in Indian Kashmir last month.
‘Yesterday I had a series of phone calls with the foreign ministers of India and Pakistan. Italy has always been considered a country that can mediate,” Tajani told Start Sky TG24.
“I hope that our work can also help end the crisis between India and Pakistan. There can be no more warfare between the two countries’,” Tajani said.
On Friday, India and Pakistan accused each other of launching new military attacks using drones and artillery for the third day in the worst fighting between the old enemies in nearly three decades.
Pakistan says at least 31 people have been killed and 57 injured by air strikes in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir, and firing along the Line of Control, since Wednesday morning.
Meanwhile, India’s army says at least 16 civilians were killed by Pakistani shelling on its side of the de facto border.
India’s attacks on “terrorist infrastructure” sites on Wednesday were the first time it has targeted cities in Pakistan as well as in Pakistani Kashmir since the two countries’ full-scale war in 1971.
India and Pakistan both claim the whole of Kashmir. Indian-administered Kashmir has seen a decades-long insurgency which in which thousands of people have been killed.
