BEIJING, Oct. 15 -- The Chinese Foreign Ministry urged India and Pakistan to stop fighting and control tensions through dialogue and consultation on Wednesday.

As a neighbor and friend of both India and Pakistan, China called on the two countries to keep restraint, cease fire and properly handle disputes through dialogue and consultation. They should make joint efforts for South Asia's peace, stability and development, said Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei at a daily press conference.

He said China is watching the situation between the two countries.

Pakistan reported 12 people had been killed over the past 10 days as India shells along the Line of Control (LoC) in the disputed Kashmir region and the working boundary that separates the two countries in Punjab province.

India also said Pakistani shelling had killed and injured dozens of its nationals.

Both countries declared a ceasefire along the LoC in 2003 and guns had relatively been silent since then. However, the two sides occasionally trade fire. There has been heavy shelling over the past 10 days.