Pakistani PM reiterates offer for dialogue with India
By Ding Xuezhen
People's Daily app
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Islamabad (People's Daily) – Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan said in a video message on Wednesday afternoon that it is imperative that the Pakistani and Indian governments "use heads and act with wisdom" amid roaring tensions, local media reported.

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(Photo: VCG)

Khan's remarks came after two Indian jet planes were shot down in Pakistan-controlled Kashmir and two Indian pilots were arrested.

Khan said, "All wars are miscalculated, and no one knows where they lead to," warning that if the current situation escalates, things will go out of the control of both sides, the Dawn News reported.

The prime minister reiterated Pakistan's offer for dialogue on terrorism and underlined that it is not in Pakistan's interest to let their land be used for terrorism.

The Civil Aviation Authority of Pakistan later declared that the country has officially closed its airspace until further notice and issued a NOTAM (Notice to Airmen). According to a statement by Air China, the flights heading to or departing from Pakistan on Wednesday and Thursday have been canceled.

Pakistan military spokesman Major General Asif Ghafoor told a press conference in the afternoon that the Pakistan Air Force launched air strikes in an open space in the Indian-controlled Kashmir earlier Wednesday morning, targeting non-military targets to showcase Pakistan's capabilities while avoiding casualties as a response to Indian strikes Tuesday.

At around 3 am Tuesday morning local time, eight Indian military aircraft flew across the Line of Control in the Kashmir region and released their ordnance when forced to scuttle back. This triggered widespread outrage in Pakistan.