Muscat – Oman has voiced concern over the escalating military tensions between India and Pakistan, calling for immediate de-escalation and a return to diplomatic dialogue to preserve regional stability.

In a statement issued by its Foreign Ministry, Oman urged the two nuclear-armed neighbours to resolve their differences through political means. ‘The Foreign Ministry is following with deep concern the current military escalation between India and Pakistan. The Sultanate of Oman calls on the two neighbouring countries to contain this dangerous escalation and open the way for diplomatic efforts to reach an understanding between them and prioritise political solutions to preserve security and stability and achieve peace, peaceful coexistence and harmony.’

The appeal follows a series of Indian airstrikes early Wednesday on what New Delhi described as ‘terrorist infrastructure’ in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir. The strikes, part of ‘Operation Sindoor’, targeted nine locations in response to the April 22 attack in Indian-administered Kashmir, which left 26 civilians dead, including 25 Indian nationals and one Nepali.

Pakistan strongly condemned the strikes as “unprovoked aggression”. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif called these a “heinous act that will not go unpunished”, while the Pakistani military reported 26 deaths and 46 injuries in the affected areas.

India maintained that the strikes were ‘focused, measured and non-escalatory’, aimed at avoiding military installations. India too reported at least 15 civilians killed and 43 injured by Pakistani shelling on its side of the border.