Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala) [India], May 8 (ANI): Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on Thursday said that China 'did not take much of a pro-Pakistan stand' amid current tensions between India and Pakistan following Pahalgam terror attack and said the Indian market is all the more important to Beijing today in the Trumpian world of high tariffs.

He also said that China needs India in a way that it never needed before.

India carried out Operation Sindoor early on Wednesday with precision strikes hitting nine terrorist infrastructure sites in Pakistan and Pakistan Occupied Jammu and Kashmir in response to the Pahalgam terror strike in which 26 people were killed.

Tharoor told ANI that Russia, France, and Israel have specifically shown understanding for India's right to defend itself against terrorism

'All countries have called for restraint. That's normal. No one wants to see an escalating war between two nuclear powers. Russia, France, and Israel are the only ones that have specifically shown understanding publicly for India's right to defend itself against terrorism. America, in principle, should have said something, given that they are the ones that reacted the most strongly against Afghanistan after 9/11,' Tharoor said.

He hoped Beijing would adopt a constructive role to avoid escalation between India and Pakistan.

'Surprisingly, China did not take as much of a pro-Pakistan stand... What China has said is suggestive that they are not oblivious of the fact that relations with India were warming. The Indian market is all the more important to China today in the Trumpian world of high tariffs. China needs India in a way that it never needed them before... If there were a real war, they would have been supporting Pakistan. But to prevent a war, China will take a constructive approach in my view,' the Congress MP said.

On Wednesday, the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson expressed concern over the ongoing situation and urged both nations to act in the larger interest of peace and stability, remain calm, exercise restraint and refrain from taking actions that may further complicate the situation.

The spokesperson said in a statement that Beijing opposes all forms of terrorism.

'We are concerned about the ongoing situation. India and Pakistan are and will always be each other's neighbors. They're both China's neighbors as well. China opposes all forms of terrorism. We urge both sides to act in the larger interest of peace and stability, remain calm, exercise restraint and refrain from taking actions that may further complicate the situation,' the statement said. (ANI)