Italy has expressed expressed concern at the escalation of the already tense situation between India and Pakistan as Italian Minister for Interior Matteo Piantedosi paid a courtesy call on Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar.

Piantedosi called for restraint on both sides and offered condolences for the innocent lives lost in Pakistan, the Foreign Office said.

Dar briefed the Italian Minister on India’s recent escalatory measures and stated that Pakistan strongly condemned India’s cowardly action, which was a flagrant violation of the UN Charter, international law, and established norms of inter-state relations.

He noted that Pakistan had exercised restraint but India, with its blatant disregard for international law, continued to threaten regional peace.