Editor's note: Cheng Xizhong is a senior fellow at Chahar Institute and director of the South Asian Society of China. The article reflects the author's opinion, and not necessarily the views of CGTN.

India carried out pre-dawn air strikes on alleged terror training camps across the Line of Control (LoC) at about 3:30 am on February 26, killing nearly 200, according to Indian media reports.

This action comes after about 40 paramilitary police officers were killed by a massive car bomb in Indian-controlled Kashmir on February 14, for which India blames Pakistan, saying they have been sheltering and supporting the militants carrying out the attacks.

Violations of the LoC

In 1947, a military conflict broke out between India and Pakistan in Kashmir. After negotiations for peace, the armies of both countries retreated to the ceasefire line. From then on, that line has become the demarcation between the two countries in Kashmir, known as the LoC.

For many years, both India and Pakistan have more or less respected the LoC in peacetime, although there are more than 100 minor exchanges of fire each year.

After the February 14 attack, Indian authorities not only condemned Pakistan of supporting terrorist activities without investigation, but also threatened to retaliate. Then, India launched air strikes, which has been rarely seen in recent years, seriously violating the agreement between India and Pakistan. 

The risk of unexpected outbursts

Immediately following the air strikes, both India and Pakistan held high-level security meetings on the development of the situation. Both Prime Ministers Narendra Modi and Imran Khan have summoned emergency meetings.

However, as both India and Pakistan are focusing on getting rid of poverty, enhancing economic development and promoting national prosperity, I am quite confident that the leaders of the two countries have enough wisdom to control the situation so that a  large-scale armed conflict will not occur. The stability of relations between India and Pakistan is conducive to the fundamental interests of the two countries and to peace and development of the region.

Sufficient restraint desperately needed

After Indian jets crossed into Pakistan and carried out what one Indian minister called an air strike on "terror camps," Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said on Tuesday that "better sense" should prevail in India.

Although Pakistan is well prepared for a military response, it has not taken military action, thus avoiding further escalation of direct military confrontation.

Both India and Pakistan are victims of terrorism, and so it would be better if they would both cooperate in anti-terrorism efforts in the region.

(Cover photo: Indian Border Security Force personnel stand guard at the India-Pakistan Wagah border, some 35 kms from Amritsar, February 26, 2019. /VCG Photo)

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