File picture of Qatar’s Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed Bin Abdulrahman al-Thani.
| Photo Credit: AP
Global powers on Wednesday (May 7, 2025) called for de-escalation of tensions as Indian military forces carried out punitive strikes against targets inside Pakistan in response to the deadly April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam. Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani called External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and conveyed Qatar’s “deep concern” over the fast-shifting scenario after India bombed nine targets inside Pakistan in the early hours of Wednesday (May 7, 2025).
Before speaking to Mr. Jaishankar, Mr. Al-Thani had called Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and affirmed Qatar’s full support “for all regional and international efforts aimed at resolving outstanding issues between the two countries through dialogue and peaceful means.”
Operation Sindoor: Follow LIVE updates on May 7, 2025
Like Qatar, Spain also has reached out to both India and Pakistan and called for resolution of the crisis. Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares called Mr. Jaishankar and his Pakistani counterpart Ishaq dar. “This morning, I spoke with my counterparts from India and Pakistan to promote dialogue and de-escalation between India and Pakistan. Peace, diplomacy and restraint must prevail,” he said.
These phone calls from Spain and Qatar to both India and Pakistan took place hours before the Foreign Minister of Iran Seyed Abbas Araghchi arrived here late on Wednesday (May 7, 2025).
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Mr. Araghchi visited Pakistan on Monday (May 5, 2025) where he met with Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir and called for dialogue with India. Mr. Araghchi will hold a meeting with Mr. Jaishankar on Thursday (May 8, 2025) noon and will call on President Droupadi Murmu.
Iran’s bitter rival Israel has supported India’s military strike against Pakistani targets named Operation Sindoor, with the Israeli Ambassador Reuven Azar saying, “Israel supports India’s right for self defense. Terrorists should know there’s no place to hide from their heinous crimes against the innocent.”
The Taliban administration of Afghanistan in a statement said “further escalation” was not “in the interest of the region.” “The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan reaffirms its belief that security and stability serve the collective interests of all countries in the region,” said the Taliban administration in Kabul, urging India and Pakistan to “exercise restraint and resolve their issues through dialogue and diplomacy.”
Mr. Jaishankar also held a telephone conversation with Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya who reiterated Tokyo’s condemnation of the Pahalgam attack and “strongly” urged India and Pakistan to exercise restraint. Mr. Iwaya expressed “deep concern” about the latest developments saying that these events “could lead to further reprisals and escalate into a full-scale military conflict”.
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“Japan strongly urges both India and Pakistan to exercise restraint and stabilise the situation through dialogue for the peace and stability in South Asia,” said Mr. Iwaya reiterating that Japan” will continue to monitor the situation closely while taking all possible measures to protect Japanese nationals abroad”. The Japanese call for concern came days after the visiting Speaker of the House of Representative of Japan Nikaga Fukushiro expressed his country’s full support to India in the fight against terrorism. Mr. Jaishakar appreciated Mr. Iwaya’s gesture and informed that he had “discussed India’s action against the cross-border terrorist infrastructure this morning.”
Mr. Jaishankar held a special joint phone call with the Foreign Minister of France Jean-Noël Barrot and the Foreign Minister of Germany Johann Wadephul. He acknowledged French and German support for India’s counter-terror strikes saying, “Appreciated their solidarity and support in the wake of the Pahalgam terrorist attack. Discussed ensuring zero tolerance for terrorism.”
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The interim government of Bangladesh in a statement announced that it was “closely observing” Indo-Pakistan ties and urged “both sides from taking any steps that could further aggravate the situation”. “In the spirit of regional peace, prosperity and stability, Bangladesh remains hopeful that tensions will be defused through diplomatic endeavours, and that peace will ultimately prevail for the benefits of the peoples in the region,” said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Dhaka.
Former U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said Operation Sindoor was “justified” in attacking targets in Pakistan. “There can be no impunity for terrorists,” said Mr. Sunak.
Published – May 07, 2025 10:11 pm IST