Accra (Greater Accra) 13 August ?99

Ghana on Thursday appealed to India and Pakistan to exercise restraint and solve their current crisis through diplomatic channels.

An official statement said a peaceful resolution of the crisis would prevent escalation and ensure the stability of that region.

India last Tuesday shot down a Pakistani patrol navy plane, claiming the aircraft had strayed into its airspace.

All the 16 people on board the military aircraft were killed.

The statement said the shooting incident, coming as it was, soon after the Kashmir crisis provoked by guerrillas who had infiltrated into Indian territory, ''is a cause for concern.''

''The government of Ghana was gratified to note that even during the height of the crisis, the two countries were willing to accept a resolution of the problem through continued dialogue''.

Ghana, the statement added, would "like to urge both countries to exercise restraint and to initiate measures to speed up, through diplomatic channels, a peaceful resolution of the conflict".