Srinagar: Canada’s Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland has urged India and Pakistan to exercise maximum restraint to avoid any further military escalation over rising tensions between the two countries.

In a statement issued Wednesday afternoon, Freeland said that “Canada is gravely concerned about rising tensions between India and Pakistan”, Xinhua news agency reported.

“Dialogue between India and Pakistan is needed to identify a durable diplomatic solution and maintain peace and security in the region,” the minister said.

Early Wednesday, Pakistan shot down two Indian fighter jets and also took one Indian pilot into custody.