#IndiaHitsBack: IAF fighter jets destroy terrorist camp across LoC in Pakistan-Occupied-Kashmir (POK)

While a union minister tweeted to confirm the strikes now being called SurgicalStrikes2 (after the first such Indian response in 2016),  sources in the Indian Air Force told Indian media, 1,000 kg bombs were dropped on Jaish bases across the LoC by multiple jets, including the IAF’s Mirage 2000.

 Balakot, Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (POK) were locations hit by IAF. As per an initial estimate, around 300 terrorists are believed to be killed in the airstrike, sources told the Indian news channels though it was not yet confirmed officially.

The pre-dawn air strikes on terror camps were carried out around 3:30 am, Reports said 12 Mirage 2000 fighter jets of the Indian bombarded the terror camps of the Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Taiba and Hizbul Mujahideen.

Briefing the media, India's foreign secretary Vijay Gokhale said it was a non-military pre-emptive strike aimed at Jaish camps. He said India repeatedly urged Pakistan to dismantle the infrastructure of terrorism on its soil but without any action. "A pre-emptive strike became absolutely necessary," he said. India struck the biggest training camp of Jaish-e-Mohammad in Balakot, he said. He said in this strike in early hours a very large number of Jaish terrorists, trainers, senior commandors and groups of jehadis who were being trained for fidayaan action were eliminated. This camp was headed by Maulana Yusuf Azhar, he said. 

He said Pakistan as per its assurance should eliminate all terror camps. 

However, Intel sources told India Today that anticipating action by Indian forces after the terror attack in Pulwama, Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) leaders were moved to safer locations.

"Air Force carried out aerial strike early morning today at terror camps across the LoC and Completely destroyed it," tweeted Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat.

Sources told Indian media that the strikes were "100 per cent successful" and went on exactly as planned.

Major General AK Siwach told NDTV: "There is absolutely no question that India is now on the highest alert. The strikes have been very successful, and now we must stay guarded. 

Pakistan reacts:

Pakistan's defence spokesperson, however, claimed in a tweet: "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."

Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Home Minister Rajnath Singh -- all members of CCS were present at the meeting.

Indian politicians salute IAF:

Congress Rahul Gandhi tweeted: "I salute the pilots of the IAF."

Former Jammu and Kashmir CM Omar Abdullah said: "Wow, if this is true this was not a small strike by any stretch of imagination but will wait for official word, should any be forthcoming."

Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal also praised the Indian Air Force and posted: "I salute the bravery of Indian Air Force pilots who have made us proud by striking terror targets in Pakistan."

Black Feb 14 in Kashmir:

Kashmir witnessed a black day on Feb 14 when a terror attack killed 40 Indian CRPF jawans and left the nation shocked.

India blamed Pakistan for Pulwama

The latest strike by the IAF occurred just two weeks after the Pulwama terror attack in Kashmir.

India after the attack by a suicide bomber of Jaish-e-Mohammad said: "This heinous and despicable act has been perpetrated by Jaish-e-Mohammed, a Pakistan-based and supported terrorist organisation proscribed by the United Nations and other countries. This terror group is led by the international terrorist Masood Azhar, who has been given full freedom by Government of Pakistan to operate and expand his terror infrastructure in territories under the control of Pakistan and to carry out attacks in India and elsewhere with impunity."

Surgical Strike in 2016

In Septermber 2016, amid mass anger in India over the Uri attack in Kashmir, India had carried out surgical strikes crossing the Line of Control (LoC) into Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (POK), targeting terrorist launchpads working from within the neighbouring country.

Pakistan denied that there were surgical attacks calling India's claims as "fabrication of truth" but Pak PM Nawaz Sharif had warned India against any aggression.

FULL STATEMENT OF INDIA'S MINISTRY ON EXTERNAL AFFAIRS: 

Statement by Foreign Secretary on 26 February 2019 on the Strike on JeM training camps at Balakot

February 26, 2019

On 14 February 2019, a suicide terror attack was conducted by a Pak based terrorist organization Jaish-e-Mohammad, leading to the martyrdom of 40 brave jawans of the CRPF. JeM has been active in Pakistan for the last two decades, and is led by MASOOD AZHAR with its headquarters in Bahawalpur.

This organization, which is proscribed by the UN, has been responsible of a series of terrorist attacks including on the Indian Parliament in December 2001 and the Pathankot airbase in January 2016.

Information regarding the location of training camps in Pakistan and PoJK has been provided to Pakistan from time to time. Pakistan, however, denies their existence. The existence of such massive training facilities capable of training hundreds of jidhadis could not have functioned without the knowledge of Pakistan authorities.

India has been repeatedly urging Pakistan to take action against the JeM to prevent jihadis from being trained and armed inside Pakistan. Pakistan has taken no concrete actions to dismantle the infrastructure of terrorism on its soil.

Credible intelligence was received that JeM was attempting another suicide terror attack in various parts of the country, and the fidayeen jihadis were being trained for this purpose. In the face of imminent danger, a preemptive strike became absolutely necessary.

In an intelligence led operation in the early hours of today, India struck the biggest training camp of JeM in Balakot. In this operation, a very large number of JeM terrorists, trainers, senior commanders and groups of jihadis who were being trained for fidayeen action were eliminated. This facility at Balakot was headed by MAULANA YOUSUF AZHAR (alias USTAD GHOURI), the brother-in-law of MASOOD AZHAR, Chief of JeM.

The Government of India is firmly and resolutely committed to taking all necessary measures to fight the menace of terrorism. Hence this non-military preemptive action was specifically targeted at the JeM camp. The selection of the target was also conditioned by our desire to avoid civilian casualties. The facility is located in thick forest on a hilltop far away from any civilian presence. As the strike has taken place only a short while ago, we are awaiting further details.

The Government of Pakistan had made a solemn commitment in January 2004 not to allow its soil or territory under its control to be used for terrorism against India. We expect that Pakistan lives up to its public commitment and takes follow up actions to dismantle all JeM and other camps and hold the terrorists accountable for the actions.

New Delhi
February 26, 2019

 

Image: IAF website