India says doesn't want 'further escalation' after Pakistan air strikes

WUZHEN, China: India wants to avoid any "further escalation of the situation" after conducting "pre-emptive" air strikes against in Pakistani territory, foreign minister Sushma Swaraj said on Wednesday.The incursion across the ceasefire line that divides Kashmir came after New Delhi threatened retaliation over the February 14 suicide bombing that killed 40 Indian troops, and was claimed by Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) group.Swaraj stressed during talks in China with her counterparts from Beijing and Moscow that "no military installations were targeted" in the air raid, and the target was selected to avoid civilian casualties."The limited objective of that pre-emptive strike was to act decisively against the terrorist infrastructure of Jaish-e-Mohammed in order to pre-empt another terror attack in India," Swaraj said."India does not wish to see further escalation of this situation. India will continue to act with responsibility and restraint."Meanwhile, Pakistan denied India´s claim that the attack had inflicted major damage and casualties, calling it "reckless and fictitious" and vowing a response in due course.The operation is India´s first use of air power on Pakistani soil since the two went to war in 1971.

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