They were in Pakistani air space, attacking a Pakistani ground position (hut, camel, whatever). And PAF would have been the aggressor? How does this calculation work?
What PAF will not admit is that IAF did in fact found a clink in PAF's layered defense. And it will only add to their confidence. You can be rest assured, that any future attack in India will invite an IAF response in Pakistan. They have even found diplomatic cover from P5 over this act of aggression. And going by precedent, PAF will sit the engagement out as per 'peace time' ROEs.
And I completely agree that Pakistan can ill-afford a war at the moment. PAF's only chance at getting back, was when the aircraft were in Pakistani territory. Now Army and civilians will bear the brunt for next few weeks and public will forget and move on, like after Surgical Strike 1.