'War was not India's choice and was not in the interests of any party': NSA Ajit Doval speaks to China's Wang Yi

NEW DELHI: National Security Advisor Ajit Doval on Saturday spoke with Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi on a phone call amid escalating tensions between India and Pakistan. While referring to India's response to Pahalgam terror attack, Doval said, "War was not India's choice and was not in the interests of any party."The conversation came just hours after Pakistan launched another round of drone incursions into Indian airspace, despite a ceasefire deal that Islamabad itself had initiated earlier in the day."The Pahalgam terrorist attack caused serious casualties among Indian personnel and that India needed to take counter-terrorism actions. War was not India's choice and was not in the interests of any party. India and Pakistan would be committed to a ceasefire and look forward to restoring regional peace and stability as soon as possible," Chinese foreign ministry quoted NSA Doval.During the call, Wang Yi expressed China’s strong condemnation of the attack and stressed the importance of regional stability. According to the Chinese foreign ministry, Wang Yi told NSA Doval that both India and Pakistan are China’s neighbours and that peace in the region is “hard-won and deserves to be cherished.” He urged both sides to remain calm, exercise restraint, and resolve differences through dialogue and consultation. Wang added that China supports a “comprehensive and lasting ceasefire” between India and Pakistan and called it a goal in line with the fundamental interests of both nations and the broader international community.Doval, according to Chinese statements, conveyed India’s deep concern over the Pahalgam attack, which resulted in serious casualties. He reiterated India’s focus on counter-terror efforts and the country’s commitment to ceasefire and de-escalation, despite Pakistan’s repeated provocations.India had launched a major counterterrorism operation, ‘Operation Sindoor’, on May 7 targeting 9 terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, with precision strikes.In response, Pakistan has repeatedly used drones against Indian border states, which have so far been intercepted and neutralised by Indian air defence systems.