*BRUSSELS: *The European Union (EU) on Tuesday called on New Delhi andIslamabad to exercise “maximum restraint” after Indian warplanes violatedPakistani airspace on Tuesday near the Line of Control (LoC), sendingtensions soaring between the nuclear-armed arch-rivals.
“We remain in contact with both countries and what we believe is essentialis that all exercise maximum restraint and avoid further escalation oftensions,” EU spokeswoman Maja Kocijancic told reporters.
The Indian Air Force (IAF) jets were chased away by Pakistan Air Force(PAF) aircraft which were immediately scrambled to thwart any aggressivemove by the country’s eastern neighbour, said the Inter-Services PublicRelations (ISPR).
The escalation came after a February 14 suicide bombing that killed over 40paramilitary forces in occupied Kashmir’s Pulwama district, setting off achain of threats and counter-warnings between the neighbours.
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The military’s media wing added that the LoC was violated near Muzaffarabadsector. “Facing timely and effective response from Pakistan AirForce released payload in haste while escaping which fell near Balakot,”said DG ISPR Major General Asif Ghafoor.
