India briefs several countries on its pre-emptive strike on Jaish camp across LoC

An NDTV reports said foreign secretary Vijay Gokhale held a meeting with diplomats from the US, UK, Russia, Australia, Indonesia, Turkey and six ASEAN countries.

Foreign minister Sushma Swaraj later said she had spoke to the US Secretary of State and other foreign minister on this issue.

"The fight is not with Pakistan. The fight is with the terror establishment,"  she said.

India acts against Jaish after Pulwama strike

Paying back Pakistan days after the Pulwama terror attack which left over 40 Indian paramilitary personnel dead, the Indian Air Force (IAF) conducted a pre-dawn surgical strike across the Line of Control (LoC) in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) destroying what it called the biggest camp of terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM).

The Pulwama attack was carried out by Pakistan-based militant organisation, Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) on Feb 14 in Kashmir, triggering a nationwide outrage in India with Prime Minister Narendra Modi swearing that the perpetrators would not go unpunished.

The Indian government on Tuesday said the Indian Air Force (IAF) had carried out a "non-military pre-emptive" surgical strike across the Line of Control (LoC) in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

Briefing the media, India's foreign secretary Vijay Gokhale said it was a non-military pre-emptive strike aimed at Jaish camps.

"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 foreign secretary said.

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 even as government sources were quoted in media claiming that about 300 militants were killed in the pre-dawn strikes in which 1,000 kg bombs were dropped on Jaish bases across the LoC by multiple jets, including 12 IAF’s Mirage 2000 that took off from Gwalior.

Justifying the action, Gokhale said: "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 pre-emptive strike became absolutely necessary."

"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," he said.

The foreign secretary said 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.

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

Reactions from other countries

Australia has since issued a strong statement, demanding that Pakistan take "urgent and meaningful action" against terrorist groups operating from its soil, including Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Taiba.

UK has asked both India and Pakistan to find a diplomatic solution.