NEW DELHI, May 26 (AFP) - India warned Pakistan Wednesday that it would take "appropriate action" if Islamabad intervened in its air strikes against Moslem rebels in Kashmir. "Should there be any direct or indirect interference in our operations by Pakistan army or Pakistan air force, the Indian defence forces have been authorised to take appropriate action," an official statement said. The air strikes launched on Wednesday were the first in the disputed state of Kashmir to flush out Pakistan-backed Moslem separatists. An air force spokesman said the bombings were carried out in the northern region of Kargil, where, according to New Delhi, some 400 Moslem guerrillas, including Taliban fighters from Afghanistan, have sneaked in under cover of artillery fire from Pakistan since May 9. "This is the start of operations and they would continue till our defence forces reoccupy our territory. Any escalation of this conflict will be entirely the responsibility of Pakistan," the strongly-worded statement said. It said it would be in the interest of Pakistan to "not only stop aiding the militants by its agencies but actually ensure their withdrawal and bring the ground position to status quo ante." Military sources in Srinagar said the air force had taken over the city airport and all civilian flights to the Himalayan state had been cancelled. Another source said the air force was on maximum alert to foil "possible" Pakistani reaction. The statement said the Indian air force took "armed action" against the Pakistan-aided militants, who had infiltrated into the Kashmir border areas of Drass, Kargil and Batalik. New Delhi said one of its aircraft was attacked "within its own air space" despite prior notice to Pakistani authorities, but did not specify when the incident occurred. "Due to this we had to use our fighter aircraft also to provide us the freedom of operating within our own air space without any outside interference," the statement said. India said the strikes were forced on it because the "infiltrators ... were in considerable strength and consisted of a large number of well trained mercenaries." "They are not only supported directly by Pakistan army, but Pakistani army regulars are believed to be participating along with them. "The infiltrators have taken positions of advantage on very high ridges which are difficult to neutralise by ground action alone. In joint operations, the army is closing in to clear the position engaged by the air force today," the statement said.  