Just two weeks after Pulwama terror attack in Kashmir region where 40 soldiers were killed, India carried out air strikes on terror training camps across the Line of Control on Tuesday, 26 February 2019. At around 3:30 this early morning, 12 Mirage 2000 fighter jets of the Indian Air Force dropped 1,000 kg bombs on terror camps of the Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Taiba and Hizbul Mujahideen.
India targeted the biggest JeM terror camp in Pakistan’s Balakot; Masood Azhar’s brother-in-law killed: Govt
Highlights
Pulwama Terror Attack
On February 14, the worst-ever terror attack was held in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pulwama district against the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel where 40 CRPF jawans were killed. Terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed had claimed responsibility for the attack.
The incident took place after a suicide bomber knock against an explosive loaded Maruti Eeco into a bus carrying CRPF personnel from Jammu to Srinagar. The NIA took the investigating regarding the attack.
India confirms IAF strike against Jaish-e-Mohammed camp in Pak’s Balakot
Prime Minister Narendra Modi strongly reacted to the attack by saying that those who did this dreadful act will pay “a heavy price”. He said, “Those who did the heinous act will have to pay a heavy price. Those who supported it will definitely be punishment. To all my colleagues, in ruling and Opposition, it’s a sensitive time. We need to speak in one voice because this battle is for us to win. “We will face this together. We will not let those forces who want to destroy us be successful. We will not leave the dreams of those who died for us yesterday unfulfilled. If our neighbour thinks it can destabilise India, then it is making a big mistake,”
Jaish-e-Mohammed Mastermind Killed
On February 18, Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed two top terrorists were killed in an encounter in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pulwama. One of them was recognized as Kamran, who was the main counsellor of Jaish chief Masood Azhar, also in charge for recruiting and training terrorists in the Kashmir valley.
The second terrorist was recognized as an IED specialist, Gazi Rashid, who was an Afghan national. The encounter was held for more than 12 hours where our four soldiers martyred in the encounter.
Ashok Gehlot, on the sacrifice of Indian Army Jawans tweeted, “I am infuriated to know about the supreme sacrifice of our jawans in an encounter with terrorists in #Pulwama today. I salute the courage and valour of brave soldiers. My thoughts are with the families of our bravehearts…May god give them strength in this most difficult time.”
Balakot Air Strike
The Indian Armed Force carried out air strikes on terror training camps across the Line of Control on Tuesday, February 26.
3:30 AM
Early morning on Tuesday, Indian Air Force sources revealed that as many as 12 Mirage 2000 jets took part in an operational task to drop 1,000-kilogram bombs on what were allegedly terrorist launchpads across the Line of Control. Also all the Indian pilots involved in the operational task reached our border safely without any casualties or damage.
8:15 AM
Pakistan armed forces spokesperson Major General Asif Ghafoor has claimed that the attack had failed to cause any destruction to Pakistan. He tweeted that the Indian side, “facing timely and effective response from Pakistan Air Force released payload in haste while escaping.”
9:00 AM
Indian Air Force sources reports to news agency 12 Mirage 2000 jets attacked terror camps in PoK
9:14 AM
Pak Army spokesperson Major General Asif Ghafoor tweets again, “Payload of hastily escaping Indian aircrafts fell in open.”
9:32 AM
First official confirmation comes from Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat. He made the confirmation by tweeting; “Air Force carried out aerial strike early morning today at terror camps across the LoC and Completely destroyed it”
9:35 AM
Congress president Rahul Gandhi tweets, “I salute the pilots of the IAF.”
9:41 AM
Delhi CM Kejriwal salutes armed forces by tweeting, “I salute the bravery of Indian Air Force pilots who have made us proud by striking terror targets in Pakistan”
9:47 AM
Former Jammu and Kashmir CM Omar Abdullah tweeted enquiring for precision on the location where the Indian Armed Force strikes took place.
He tweeted, “If this is Balakote in KPK it’s a major incursion & a significant strike by IAF planes. However if it’s Balakote in Poonch sector, along the LoC it’s a largely symbolic strike because at this time of the year forward launch pads & militant camps are empty & non-functional”.
9:56 AM
National Security Advisor Ajit Doval has met Prime Minister Narendra Modi at 7, Lok Kalyan Marg. A conference of the Cabinet Committee on Security is in progress.
10: 15 AM
Pakistan’s Major General Asif Ghafoor tweeted again, “Indian aircrafts’ intrusion across LOC in Muzafarabad Sector within AJ&K was 3-4 miles.Under forced hasty withdrawal aircrafts released payload which had free fall in open area. No infrastructure got hit, no casualties. Technical details and other important information to follow.”
11:30 AM
Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale confirmed that IAF in the early hours of Tuesday, hit a training centre of the Jaish-e-Mohammed and a great number of mentors as well as fidayeens were killed. The attack was a “non-military preemptive strike” Gokhale said.
Previous India’s surgical strike
Indian Army carried out surgical strikes against terror launch pads in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) on the superseding night of September 28-29, 2016. The operation was held just eleven days after the Uri attack which had claimed the lives of 18 BSF soldiers.
The army propelled the outbreak aiming Pakistani terrorists located across the Line of Control.
On September 29, the DGMO, Lt General Ranbir Singh, had declared that India had accompanied surgical strikes on terror pads along the LoC via ground forces and imposed “significant casualties”.
