India, Pakistan know controlling conflict in their best interests

ON FEB 14, 44 paramilitary officers were killed in a suicide attack in Pulwama in India-administered Kashmir. As it has after previous attacks, India accused Pakistan of having a "direct hand" behind the scenes and it launched airstrikes targeting what it said was a large training camp of the Jaish-e-Mohammad group, which claimed responsibility for the attack. Xiakedao, a WeChat account of People's Daily, comments:

Fortunately, the military tensions have subsided as Pakistan released the Indian pilot it was holding after his plane was shot down and said the two nuclear-armed powers should not go to war, and in response, the Indian foreign minister said that India does not want to see an escalation of the conflict.

Like his predecessors, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has taken measures to improve ties with Pakistan since taking office in May 2014. However, the latest suicide attack, following the frequent terrorist attacks targeting India in recent years, which it believes are related to Pakistan, prompted the Modi government to launch a "surgical strike" to punish Pakistan and prove its ability to retaliate, and to show a strong image ahead of the coming elections.