Japan,Germany ask India,Pak to exercise restraint, say Pak should take strong counter-terror steps

Amid Indo-Pak tensions, Japan and Germany have urged the two countries to exercise restraint to ensure that the situation does not escalate and have asked Pakistan to take strong measures to counter terrorism.

German Federal Foreign Minister Heiko Maas, in a statement, said "every effort must be made to ensure that terrorist organisations, which are known to have their base in Pakistan, are not only not able to carry out their nefarious deeds there, but are in fact combated".

And also, once the evidence is furnished, that those responsible for the terrible attack in Kashmir are held to account and do not walk free, he said.

Noting that the situation in Kashmir "is not how we would wish it to be", Maas said it is now up to both Pakistan and India "to use the utmost circumspection to ensure that this does not lead to a confrontation between the two countries".

In a statement, Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono said his country strongly condemns the terrorist attack on February 14, 2019 for which the Islamic extremist group Jaish-e-Mohammad claimed responsibility and expressed concern about the deteriorating situation in Kashmir.

"Japan urges Pakistan to take stronger measures to counter terrorism.

"In response to the mounting tension due to the operations since 26 February between the Indian Air Force and the Pakistan Air Force, Japan strongly urges India and Pakistan to exercise restraint and stabilize the situation through dialogue," Kono said.

Mass said, "There is terrorism on the ground. In Pakistan, too, every effort must be made to ensure that terrorist organisations, which are known to have their base in Pakistan, are not only not able to carry out their nefarious deeds there, but are in fact combated.

"And also, once the evidence is furnished, that those responsible for the terrible attack in Kashmir are held to account and do not walk free."