Paris: France on Wednesday called on both India and Pakistan to avoid escalation and protect civilians after India launched midnight strikes on cities in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir. “We understand India’s desire to protect itself against the scourge of terrorism. But we obviously call on both India and Pakistan to exercise restraint, to avoid escalation and, of course, to protect civilians,” French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said on the French broadcaster TF1.

According to Anadolu Agency, Barrot emphasized the importance of both nations maintaining peace and de-escalating the current tensions. “We condemned in the strongest possible terms the terrorist attack in India on April 22, which left 26 civilians brutally murdered,” he said, urging Pakistan to denounce the attack with the same intensity.

Earlier on Wednesday, India announced it had launched midnight strikes targeting cities in Pakistan and the Pakistan-administered region of Kashmir. These actions have escalated tensions between the two countries, with Pakistan claiming the strikes violated its sovereignty and asserting its right to respond.

The Pakistani army reported that at least 26 people, including women and children, were killed in the strikes, with another 46 injured. Furthermore, an exchange of fire at the disputed Kashmir border resulted in seven Indian fatalities and 35 injuries.

The recent escalation follows the April 22 attack in Pahalgam, located in Indian-administered Kashmir, where 26 individuals lost their lives. India has attributed the attack to cross-border elements, implicating Pakistan in the incident.