European Union ask India-Pakistan to exercise restraint after IAF airstrikes

Brussels, Feb 26: The EU on Tuesday called on New Delhi and Islamabad to exercise "maximum restraint" after Indian warplanes attacked a militant camp in Pakistan, sending tensions soaring between the nuclear-armed arch-rivals.

Maja Kocijancic, European Union Spokesperson told reporters,''We're following very closely the current developments between India & Pakistan. We remain in contact with both countries & what we believe is essential, is that all exercise maximum restraint and avoid further escalation of tensions.''

Twelve Indian Air Force Mirage-2000 jets crossed the Line of Control (LoC) early on Tuesday morning and destroyed terror camps of Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed in Balakot. The air strike, which has been dubbed surgical strikes 2.0, comes two weeks after a terror attack on CRPF soldiers in Pulwama, Jammu and Kashmir.

The Australian government also urged Pakistan to take "urgent and meaningful action against terrorist groups in its territory.

In a press release, the Australian government said, "Pakistan must do everything possible to implement its own proscription of Jaish-e-Mohammed. It can no longer allow extremist groups the legal and physical space to operate from its territory."

"Pakistan must take urgent and meaningful action against terrorist groups in its territory, including Jaish-e-Mohammed which has claimed responsibility for the 14 February bombing, and Lashkar-e-Taiba."

Australia also urged both India and Pakistan to exercise restraint as tension runs high with the latest counter-terrorism measure opted by the Indian security forces in the aftermath of the Pulwama terror attack that killed 40 CRPF personnel.