The United States and other regional players converged to try to head off war between the neighboring nuclear powers. But more clashes seemed to keep hostilities roiling.

Shares of Chinese defense-manufacturing companies rallied on Wednesday, as the escalation in border tensions between India and Pakistan boosted the outlook for mainland exporters.

China on Wednesday urged both India and Pakistan to exercise restraint following India's deadly strikes on Pakistani targets, expressing concern over the rising tensions. "China regrets India's military action this morning and is concerned about the current developments,

The violent crisis between India and Pakistan is exactly the kind of international emergency that would once have prompted a full-on US diplomatic drive to cool tempers and head off a wider war.

The United States is leading global efforts to reduce tensions between India and Pakistan, Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif told Reuters on Thursday. India's drone incursions into Pakistan on Thursday made Pakistan's attack on India "increasingly certain",