, May 7 -- BEIJING: China on Wednesday called on India and Pakistan to exercise maximum restraint in the "larger interest of peace and stability" in the region.

The statement by China's Foreign Ministry came as Indian armed forces early Wednesday carried out missile strikes on nine terror targets in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir in retaliation for the Pahalgam terror attack.

"We are concerned about the ongoing situation. India and Pakistan are and will always be each other's neighbours. They are both China's neighbours as well," the statement said.

"China opposes all forms of terrorism," it added, in an apparent reference to the Pahalgam terrorist attack.

"We urge both sides to act in the larger interest of peace and stabilit...