China vows to stand by Pakistan in defending its 'sovereignty, territorial integrity', calls it 'iron-clad friend'

China on Saturday said that it would continue to support Pakistan in upholding its "sovereignty, territorial integrity, and national independence", describing the country as an "iron-clad friend."According to Pakistan’s Foreign Office, China’s foreign minister Wang Yi made these remarks in a phone call with Pakistan’s deputy prime minister and foreign minister Ishaq Dar.Dar updated Wang on the regional situation, to which Wang nodded approvingly, praising Islamabad’s "restraint and appreciated its responsible approach under challenging circumstances"."He reaffirmed that China, as Pakistan's All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partner and iron-clad friend, will continue to stand firmly by Pakistan in upholding its sovereignty, territorial integrity, and national independence," the Foreign Office said.

Separately, Dar also spoke with UAE deputy prime minister and foreign minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, who welcomed the ceasefire deal between Pakistan and India.Additionally, Dar held discussions with Turkish foreign minister Hakan Fidan to brief him about the regional situation.Earlier, US President Donald Trump announced that India and Pakistan have agreed to a "full and immediate" ceasefire, stating it resulted from US-facilitated discussions.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio described it as a US-brokered ceasefire, praising Prime Ministers Narendra Modi for "his wisdom, prudence, and statesmanship in choosing the path of peace".The ceasefire was announced after both India and Pakistan launched attacks on each other's military sites.However, just hours after the agreement, loud explosions were reported in Srinagar and nearby border areas as Pakistani drones entered Indian airspace.