German Chancellor Merz urges restraint between India, Pakistan

BERLIN

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Wednesday urged both India and Pakistan to exercise restraint and prudence, calling on both nations to avoid actions that might further escalate tensions.

During a joint press conference with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris, Merz said their discussions had covered the recent tensions between India and Pakistan among other international matters.

“We view the confrontations last night between these two nuclear powers with the utmost concern,” Merz told reporters. “Now, more than ever, it is necessary to keep a cool head. Prudence and reason are required, and no one in the region should have any interest in further escalation,” he stressed.

Merz said Germany has been actively engaged in diplomatic efforts to prevent further escalation between the two nations. “We continue talks with our partners in Europe and in the region, as well as with the parties to the conflict, and are trying to exert our influence to prevent further escalation,” he said.

Overnight, India said it had launched strikes on cities in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir, targeting what it called “nine terrorist locations.”

At least 31 people, including five in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, were killed and 46 others injured due to Indian strikes and cross-border firing, the Pakistani Army said, adding that six places were targeted by the Indian missiles.

The escalation between the nuclear-armed neighbors comes in the wake of an April 22 attack in Pahalgam, Indian-administered Kashmir, in which 26 people were killed.

India blamed Pakistan for the attack, claiming there were cross-border links. Pakistan denied that it had anything to do with the killings. Islamabad has proposed a neutral probe into the attack with third-party monitoring.