*NEW DELHI- *On a day the United States and its allies pounded Syria inretaliation for what they call a chemical attack by the Assad regime oncivilians, India called for restraint, urging that dialogue was the wayforward.

“We urge all parties to show restraint and to avoid any further escalationin the situation. The matter should be resolved through dialogue andnegotiations, and on the basis of the principles of the UN Charter and inaccordance with international law,” said Raveesh Kumar, the ExternalAffairs Ministry Spokesperson.

In a joint operation today, over 100 missiles were fired in what USPresident Donald Trump called “precision strikes” against Syria, wheredozens of people were killed last week in a suspected toxic attack bySyrian government forces on the town of Douma.

“The alleged use of chemical weapons, if true, is deplorable. We call foran impartial and objective investigation by the OPCW (Organisation For TheProhibition of Chemical Weapons) to establish the facts,” said Mr Kumar.

In a statement, OPCW, the chemical weapons watchdog of the United Nations,has said its fact-finding team will continue to investigate allegations ofthe use of chemical weapons where 70 people reportedly died due to anexposure to chemical attack.

Syria and Russia have condemned the air strike, denying President BasharAssad’s forces did not use chemical weapons.

But the US that carried out its second strike on Syria in a year refuses tobuy that argument.