As India and Pakistan inch closer to a full-scale regional confrontation, BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman has called for restraint, immediate de-escalation and a return to diplomacy.

In a statement posted to his official Facebook page on Wednesday, Rahman expressed "deep concern" over the rising hostilities and criticised the use of military force.

“As tensions flare in our neighbourhood, we condemn military attacks and extend our condolences to the families of the victims,” he wrote, alluding to civilian casualties reported in Pakistan-administered Kashmir.

Rahman urged both New Delhi and Islamabad to "exercise restraint and commit to a peaceful resolution," warning that unchecked escalation between two nuclear-armed powers could have catastrophic consequences for the wider region.

“A stable and peaceful region, built upon shared interests and aspirations, serves the best interests of all,” the BNP leader stressed, adding his voice to a growing chorus of South Asian political figures urging dialogue over confrontation.

His remarks come in the wake of India’s launch of Operation Sindoor on Tuesday, which targeted six sites across the border in retaliation for a deadly terror attack in Pahalgam that killed 26 people.

Pakistan claims at least 26 civilians were killed and 46 injured in the Indian assault. In swift retaliation, Islamabad announced it had shot down five Indian fighter jets and struck Indian military posts along the Line of Control.

The tit-for-tat attacks have triggered global concern, with the United States, China, the United Kingdom, and the United Arab Emirates issuing urgent calls for calm.

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