China plays mediator to 'bridge' the 'differences' between Pakistan and Iran; Beijing says it is in close contact with Tehran, Islamabad

China on Thursday last offered to play a “constructive role” to defuse tension between Islamabad and Tehran after Pakistan carried out “precise military strikes” against “terrorist hideouts” in Iran's Siestan-Balochistan province.

Tensions between Pakistan and Iran: China said on Monday it is in close contact with Pakistan and Iran to “bridge their differences” after the two countries carried out air strikes on each other last week.

The Foreign Ministry statement came amid Foreign Minister Sun Weidong's reported visit to Pakistan for a mediation mission.

China last offered on Thursday to play a “constructive role” to defuse tension between Islamabad and Tehran after Pakistan carried out “precise military strikes” against what it called “terrorist hideouts” in Iran's Siestan-Balochistan province, nine people were killed in the early hours. Thursday. The attack was seen as retaliation for Iranian missile and drone strikes last Tuesday, which targeted two bases of the Sunni Baloch militant group Jaish al-Adl in Pakistan's restive Balochistan province.

The attacks have put China in a sticky situation as Pakistan is an all-weather ally while Iran has been warming up to Beijing in recent years, allowing China to expand its influence in the West Asian region. China also imports a significant amount of oil from Iran.

China maintains close communication with Iran and Pakistan, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin told a news conference on Monday when a Pakistani journalist asked him about Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu's phone call on Sunday with the Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri Kani and the current situation. visit of another Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong to Pakistan.

Sun was a former ambassador to Pakistan and India.

Wang said Iran and Pakistan are friendly neighbors and both are good friends of China.

“China is committed to maintaining regional and international peace and stability, and supports Iran and Pakistan in continuing to bridge differences through dialogue and consultation,” Wang said.

The spokesperson said China would like to continue to play a positive and constructive role in improving relations between Iran and Pakistan based on the needs of the two countries.

(Only the headline was reworked by India.com staff. The copy is from an agency feed)