Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi held phone calls respectively with senior officials from Pakistan and India on Saturday, as the two countries reached a ceasefire following days of cross-border firing exchanges.

China hopes for and supports an early ceasefire between Pakistan and India, and is willing to continue playing a constructive role in this regard, Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks during a phone call with Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Pakistan's deputy prime minister and foreign minister.

As a neighbor of both Pakistan and India, China is concerned about the escalation of their conflict, Wang said, expressing sympathies over the civilian casualties in Pakistan.

Noting that China supports Pakistan in safeguarding its national sovereignty and dignity, Wang expressed confidence that Pakistan will respond to the current situation with calm, and make decisions in line with its fundamental and long-term interests.

India and Pakistan on Saturday agreed to immediately cease all hostilities across land, air, and sea, following four days of intense cross-border drone and missile strikes, according to Hindustan Times.

Wang emphasized that once a ceasefire is reached, it must be jointly upheld to prevent the recurrence of conflicts, adding that a lasting ceasefire serves the interests of both sides, contributes to regional peace and stability, and meets the common expectations of the international community.

Standing at the forefront of the international fight against terrorism, Pakistan has made important contributions to counterterrorism efforts, said Wang, voicing China's support for Pakistan in maintaining its firm stance against terrorism.

Amid the ongoing tensions, Wang expressed confidence that Pakistan will take effective measures to ensure the safety of Chinese citizens and institutions in the country.

When talking to India's National Security Advisor Ajit Doval over phone, Wang expressed his hope that India and Pakistan will remain calm and restrained, properly handle differences through dialogue and consultation, and avoid escalating the situation.

Wang also said to the Indian official that China condemns the terrorist attacks in Pahalgam area and opposes all forms of terrorism.

Noting that the world is undergoing both transformation and upheaval, Wang said peace and stability in Asia are hard-won and deserve to be cherished, adding that India and Pakistan are neighbors that cannot be moved away, and that they are both neighbors of China.

After the ceasefire was reached on Saturday, however, loud explosions were heard in Srinagar, in Indian-administered Kashmir, hours after India and Pakistan agreed to an immediate ceasefire, according to Al Jazeera.

India and Pakistan have accused each other of "violations" of ceasefire.

India's Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said there had been "repeated violations of the understanding we arrived at," according to a report by BBC.

A short while later, Pakistan's foreign ministry said it remained "committed to faithful implementation of a ceasefire... notwithstanding the violations being committed by India in some areas," the BBC report said. 

In a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan on Saturday, Pakistan said that for regional peace and stability, Pakistan has responded very responsibly, moderately and maturely to "India's aggressive acts," according to Xinhua. 

Pakistan is willing to engage in constructive diplomacy and dialogue with India and resolve all issues, including the Kashmir issue, through peaceful means, the statement reads. 

Despite some reports of explosions, after the ceasefire was announced, there have also been scenes of calm in many areas, according to reports by Sky News. 

In some parts on both sides, people have marked what many hope will become a lasting ceasefire, the report said.

The latest news by Indian media NDTV showed that security forces remained on high alert even as no firing along the Line of Control and no late night drone activity was reported in Srinagar. 

In a late night address, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif welcomed the ceasefire and thanked countries like China, the US and Saudi Arabia for backing peace efforts. He expressed hope that issues like water-sharing and Jammu & Kashmir would be resolved, CNBC reported. 

Senior military officers are scheduled to speak again on May 12, Reuters said.

Global Times