China has offered to mediate between Iran and Pakistan amid fears of further escalation between the two sides after tit-for-tat strikes. Pakistani fighter jets targeted alleged hideouts of nationalist separatists in neighbouring Iran, a day after Iranian drones hit Islamist fighters in cross-border drone strikes. The exchanges between Sunni-majority Pakistan and Shiite-dominated Iran have escalated tensions, with regional powers China and Russian calling on both sides to show restraint and not to let the conflict escalate further. Beijing proposed mediation. “Iran and Pakistan are China’s clos…