India has brought neighbours 'closer to major conflict', says Foreign Office

Pakistan charged India Friday with bringing the nuclear-armed neighbours "closer to a major conflict".

In his weekly news briefing in Islamabad, Foreign Office spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan said that India's "jingoism and war hysteria" should be a source of serious concern for the world. 

"It is most unfortunate that India's reckless conduct has brought the two nuclear-armed states closer to a major conflict," he added.

Several countries have offered to mediate, and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met his Indian counterpart Subrahmanyam Jaishankar in New Delhi on Thursday, days after visiting Pakistan.

Diplomats and world leaders have pressured both countries for restraint.

However, the International Crisis Group said "foreign powers appear to have been somewhat indifferent" to the prospect of war, despite warnings of possible escalation.

"A combination of bellicose rhetoric, domestic agitation and the remorseless logic of military one-upmanship have heightened the risks of escalation, particularly because for some time there was no diplomatic communication between the sides," it said.

Amnesty said the warring sides "must take all necessary measures to protect civilians and minimise any suffering and casualties".