No..I genuinely feel Pakistan should not have done what it has done in its own interest...
A lot of Pakistani posters have responded to your OP comment in this thread; but it appears that you are not satisfied with most of those responses; since you are sticking to your original view. OK. Let me try.
I respect your feeling; but naturally the decision of the retaliation was taken collectively by our political and military leadership, with full consensus of virtually all the sections of state and society. There was and has been hardly any dissenting voice, in Pakistan, against the retaliation, before or after it. Pakistan has never seen such a national consensus, in the recent past, on any issue, as this one.
Pak was unable to reign terror groups like jaish e mohammad which were behind pulwama...Modi didnt have a choice but to do something to placate the indians before elections.
No. You are absolutely wrong that Modi didn't have any other choice. He had many, but he chose the one, which suited him and political interests of his party, the most. He, in fact, deliberately created the atmosphere and necessary hue and cry, by using the Indian media, to produce requisite justification for the strike.
If I follow your logic, then it would mean that if a terrorist attack occurs in Pakistan and Pakistan thinks that it has been carried out by backing of Indian agencies; then it has all the right to carry out an air or missile strike inside India. Think over it; it is a very dangerous and disastrous proposition.
To placate the Indians, on the cost of Pakistan's sovereignty and honor, is obviously not acceptable to Pakistan; as it would, of course, not be to you. Your this proposition is also very naive, to say the least.
..he saw to it there wasnt any loss of life on your side so that things dont get escalated.
Are you implying that the Balakot strike was a deliberate miss and no loss of lives was intended, to start with? It may be your personal imagination; since your government doesn't say so.
In any case, the retaliatory response was also measured and proportional and no loss of lives, or infrastructure, was intended, as has been clearly expressed, by our DG(ISPR).
..Pakistan retaliated out of public pressure.
Of course public pressure was one of the many factors. But there is one difference. In India, after Pulwama incidence, a public pressure was deliberately created by extensive use of jingoistic propaganda; whereas in Pakistan it was spontaneous. Rather government tried its best to pacify it.
Other factors, which lead to the retaliatory action, have been given by many posters, which you would have read.
.but they shouldnt have shot the plane.
Shooting down of the plane(s) was neither part of the planned retaliatory action, nor was intended at all. Here, again, most of the people are thinking in terms of one aggressive action by India and consequent retaliatory response, by Pakistan. My take is different: India committed two aggressive actions and, consequently, Pakistan retaliated twice:
Indian Aggression # 1: Balakot strike (Feb 26)
Pakistan Retaliation # 1: Air strike on ground targets in IOK (Feb 27)
Indian Aggression # 2: Second violation of LOC and Pakistan air space by IAF aircraft (Feb 27)
Pakistan Retaliation # 2: Shooting down of IAF plane(s) (Feb 27)
Had IAF planes not violated the Pakistan air space, again on Feb 27 and remained within their own air space; no shooting down of plane(s) would have occurred.
...sometimes it's better not to corner the enemy to a point where there is no escape.
A very wise advice, no doubt; except that you have misdirected it. This precious piece of advice should be given to Indian policy makers and public, at large. As far as I know, most, of course not all, of the Pakistanis are aware of sanity and appropriateness of this statement.
..this was a great humiliation to Indian govt led by a hindutwa party and the military in general.
Once, one is bent upon humiliating and insulting others; he should be ready, for his own, as well. It is quite a common occurrence.
"Ab udaas phirtay ho, sardiyon ki shaamon main
Iss tarha tau hota hae, iss tarah kay kaamon main"
..besides your DG ISPR is rubbing salt to the wounds with his press conferences..
First thing is that the DG(ISPR) press briefings are not more than the similar briefings, held by the authorized official Indian representatives, in this respect. You may count them. In any case, the is part of his job. Don't forget that India and Pakistan are still in a state of a hybrid war, which has not yet ended.