BEIJING – China strongly urges India and Pakistan to act in the larger interest of peace and stability and exercise calm and restraint, the Chinese foreign ministry said on Saturday.

A spokesperson for the ministry said this when asked to comment on the escalating tension between India and Pakistan.

According to media reports, Pakistan said India hit targets including the Nur Khan Airbase in the early morning of Saturday. Pakistan has vowed to resolutely strike back and launched "Operation Bunyan-ul-Marsoos".

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China is closely following the ongoing situation between India and Pakistan and is deeply concerned about the escalation, said the spokesperson.

China strongly urges both sides to act in the larger interest of peace and stability, exercise calm and restraint, return to the track of political settlement through peaceful means, and refrain from any action that could further escalate tensions, the spokesperson said.

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"This will be important for the fundamental interest of both India and Pakistan and for a stable and peaceful region. This is also what the international community hopes to see."

China is willing to continue to play a constructive role to this end, added the spokesperson.