TEHRAN – Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on Wednesday expressed regret over recent clashes between India and Pakistan, asking the two countries to exercise self-restraint.

Zarif made the remarks in a phone conversation with his Pakistani counterpart Shah Mehmood Qureshi, IRNA reported. Zarif was also expected to talk on the phone with his Indian counterpart on the issue.

Over the last two days, India and Pakistan have ordered air strikes against one another, the first time in history that two nuclear-armed powers have done so, while ground forces have exchanged fire in more than a dozen locations.

MH/PA