Russia, Turkey, Afghanistan urge Pakistan and Iran to show maximum restraint after attacks

• It is regrettable this is happening between SCO states: Russia.  
• "Problems should be resolved with understanding of friendship."
• Recent incidents dangerous for regional peace, says Afghanistan. 

In order to defuse prevailing tensions and further escalation between Pakistan and Iran — two brotherly neighbouring countries — Russia, Turkey, and Afghanistan among other nations Thursday called on the two countries to show maximum restraint and solve their differences through diplomacy.

Nuclear-armed Pakistan and neighbouring Iran are both battling simmering insurgencies along their sparsely populated border regions.

Tensions sparked between the two countries after a missile strike, initiated by Iran without any provocation, caused the death of two children and injured three girls in Balochistan's "Green Mountain" area.

Pakistan's Foreign Office strongly condemned the "unprovoked" attack, stating that Tehran violated the country's sovereignty.

Meanwhile, in response to the strikes that Iran claimed targeted a militant organisation, Pakistan also launched an attack overnight resulting in the killing of several militant targets residing in the border region in Iran.

In a statement, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova asked Islamabad and Tehran to “show maximum restraint and solve their differences through diplomacy or risk playing into the hands of those who would like to see the region descend into chaos.”

The Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman noted that the two countries are part of the “Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO)”, a grouping that Russia helped found.

"It is regrettable that this is happening between friendly SCO countries, with which we are developing partnership relations. Further aggravation of the situation plays into the hands of those who are not interested in peace, stability and security in the region," Zakharova said.

Any anti-terrorist operation on another country's sovereign territory had to be carried out in agreement and coordination with the authorities of that country, she added.

Meanwhile, Turkey’s foreign ministry also called on Iran and Pakistan to show restraint and common sense after an escalation of tensions in the region.

"We believe the problems should be resolved with an understanding of friendship and brotherhood, based on mutual respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the countries," the ministry said in a statement.

'Pak-Iran tensions dangerous for regional peace'

On the other hand, Afghanistan also expressed severe concerns over the escalating tensions between the two neighbouring nations and termed it dangerous for regional peace.

In a statement, Kabul’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs called on Islamabad and Tehran to show restraint and termed the “recent violent incidents” dangerous for the regional peace.

“After prolonged battles, stability is returning to the region,” a news agency reported, citing the Afghan ministry.

Pakistan and Iran should resolve disputes through diplomacy, Kabul advised both the neighbouring nations.

China offers mediation

Earlier today, China expressed willingness to facilitate mediation between Pakistan and Iran in the aftermath of a series of attacks on militant targets by both governments across the respective borders.

During a press conference in Beijing, China's Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said the Chinese side sincerely hopes that the two sides can exercise calm and restraint and avoid an escalation of tension.

"We are also willing to play a constructive role in de-escalating the situation if both sides so wish," she added.

A day earlier, the United States condemned recent Iranian strikes in Pakistan, Iraq and Syria, which Tehran has claimed were carried out against "anti-Iranian terrorist groups."

"So we do condemn those strikes. We've seen Iran violate the sovereign borders of three of its neighbours in just the past couple of days," State Department spokesman Matthew Miller told reporters.