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 fresh accusations come a day after India's air strikes inside Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir in response to the Pahalgam killings.

Pakistan has accused India of escalating a clash over disputed Kashmir with a new drone attack it says killed a civilian and wounded four soldiers.

Indian airlines have canceled hundreds of flights from more than two dozen airports until Saturday amid heightened tensions between India and Pakistan

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.

U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday said he wants India and Pakistan to stop attacking each other now and offered to help the two countries work out their differences amid rising tensions. "I want to see it stop.