Indian Air Force pounded terrorist targets across the Line of Control (LoC) on the Pakistani side in a pre-dawn strike on February 26. On February 14, Pakistan-based terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) had carried out the Pulwama attack in which 40 CRPF personnel were killed. As a response to that dastardly attack, Indian fighter jets struck at the biggest training camp of JeM in Balakot, said Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale. In this operation, many JeM trainers, senior commanders and groups of jihadis, who were being trained for fidayeen action, were eliminated, said the Foreign Secretary. Here are the key points of IAF's operation: >The facility, located in a thick forest on a hilltop far away from civilian presence, was headed by Maulana Yousuf Azhar, alias Ustad Ghouri, the brother-in-law of JeM chief Masood Azhar, he said. Catch the live updates on the IAF strike here. >The Foreign Secretary called the operation a "major pre-emptive strike" on JeM as it was planning more suicide attacks in India. >After the reports of IAF's operation surfaced, Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said India has committed "aggression" by violating the LoC and Islamabad has "right to respond". >Earlier, the Pakistan Army alleged that the Indian Air Force violated the Line of Control (LoC) in Muzafarabad sector. "Indian aircraft intruded from Muzafarabad sector. Facing timely and effective response from Pakistan Air Force released payload in haste while escaping which fell near Balakot. No casualties or damage," Major General Asif Ghafoor, Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the media wing of the Pakistan Army, said in a tweet. Also read | Biggest JeM camp in Balakot destroyed, many terrorists killed: Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale >Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a high-level security meeting and has briefed President Ram Nath Kovind and Vice President Venkaiah Naidu about IAF's operation, said PTI quoting its sources. >Hours after IAF's operation, Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan was chairing an "important meeting" to discuss the situation, sources told PTI. >Political leaders in India, including Congress President Rahul Gandhi, have praised the air strike. >The ministers in the central government and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders have been asked not to term February 26 air strike as a revenge to Pulwma attack, top government sources told News18. >The government has convened an all-party meeting in the evening on February 26 where External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj will brief the leaders of opposition parties on the pre-dawn air strike, sources told PTI. They said the meeting has been convened at 5 PM at Jawahar Bhawan which houses the ministry of External Affairs. Leaders of various parties are expected to participate. In pics | Surgical strike 2.0: Here's what we know about IAF airstrikes on JeM terror camps >In his first public comments after the air strikes in Pakistan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the country is in safe hands and that he will not let the country down. >At a special meeting of the National Security Committee hours after Indian air strikes in Balakot inside Pakistan, Prime Minister Imran Khan asked the armed forces and the people of Pakistan to remain prepared for all eventualities, PTI has reported. >Asked for China's response to India's air strikes on terrorist camps in Pakistan, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang told the media here that "we have taken note of the relevant reports." "I want to say that India and Pakistan are both important countries in South Asia. A sound relationship and cooperation between the two serves the interests of both the countries and peace and stability in South Asia," he said. >Australian Foreign Ministry stated that Pakistan "must do everything possible to implement its own proscription of Jaish-e-Mohammed" and that "it can no longer allow extremist groups the legal and physical space to operate from its territory." "These steps would make a substantial contribution to easing tensions and resolving the underlying causes of conflict. Australia urges both sides to exercise restraint, avoid any action which would endanger peace and security in the region and engage in dialogue to ensure that these issues are resolved peacefully," the statement added. >The European Union (EU) called on New Delhi and Islamabad to exercise "maximum restraint", news agency Agence France-Presse has reported. "We remain in contact with both countries and what we believe is essential is that all exercise maximum restraint and avoid further escalation of tensions," EU Spokeswoman Maja Kocijancic told reporters. >The United Kingdom (UK), in a statement said that it was "concerned by rising tensions" and that it was "encouraging both sides to avoid taking action that will pose a risk to regional stability." "The UK is working closely with international partners, including the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to ensure that those responsible for the Pulwama attack are held to account," the statement said.<doc-sep>Surgical Strike 2.0: Yusuf Azhar among terrorists killed in IAF strike on Balakot | Full list Yousuf Azhar, who headed the Balakot-based Jaish-e-Mohammad terror camp, was among the terrorists killed by Indian fighter jets in a pre-dawn strike Tuesday. Azhar, who was brother-in-law of Jaish chief Masood Azhar, was also wanted by the CBI in the IC-814 hijacking case with a pending Interpol red corner notice against him since 2000. Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale, while briefing the media on the "intelligence-led operation" on the Pakistan-based terror group's biggest training camp in Balakot, said the facility was headed by Yousuf Azhar alias Ustad Ghouri. According to India TV sources, the Balakot camp destroyed by the IAF was operated like a boarding school by the terrorist outfit. It had conference halls, parade ground, swimming pool, gymnasium and used to hold school-like activities. India TV has accessed the list of terrorists who are believed to have been killed in the IAF strike earlier today. Follow Live Updates on India's Surgical Strike 2.0 Watch video to check the full list: India struck JeM's biggest camp in Pakistan early Tuesday in a major "preemptive" air strike killing a large number of terrorists and trainers of the Pakistan-based terror group preparing to carry out suicide attacks in this country. Giving details of the operation, Gokhale said credible intelligence was received that the JeM was planning to carry out other suicide attacks in India after the Pulwama bombing on a CRPF convoy 12 days ago that killed 40 jawans. Also read | Mirage 2000 to Heron drones: 7 things India used to destroy terror camps across LoC Latest India News<doc-sep>Surgical Strike LIVE updates: The naval base at Ambala air base and Mumbai naval base have been put on high alert. Meanwhile, Australian foreign affairs minister Marise Payne said, 'Pakistan must take urgent and meaningful action against terrorist groups in its territory, including Jaish-e-Mohammed which has claimed responsibility for the 14 February bombing, and Lashkar-e-Taiba.' Auto refresh feeds Pakistan on Tuesday alleged that Indian Air Force aircraft crossed the Line of Control and were forced to turn back after Pakistan Air Force scrambled into action. Pakistan Army spokesperson, Major General Asif Ghafoor tweeted Tuesday morning alleging that more than one Indian Air Force jet 'intruded' into Pakistani territory from Muzaffarabad sector. Ghafoor said, "Facing timely and effective response from Pakistan Air Force, (IAF jets) released payload in haste while escaping which fell near Balakot. No casualties or damage." Indian Air Force sources told ANI that a group of Mirage 2000 jets struck a major terrorist camp in Balakot sector in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir. The sources said that the targetted militant training camp was 'completely destroyed' and the pilots safely came back into the Indian territory. Indian Air Force sources further said that bombs carrying at least a 1000 kilogramme of explosives were dropped on a major terror installation of Jaish-e-Mohammad terrorist group, across the Line of Control, ANI reported. At least 12 Mirage 2000 jets took part in the operation that dropped 1000 kilogramme bombs on terror camps across Line of Control, completely destroying it, ANI reported. The operation was launched at 3.56 am on Tuesday morning. Pakistan Army spokesperson, Major General Asif Ghafoor claimed that the Indian Air Force attack within the Pakistan Occupied Kashmir failed to cause any damage. He claimed that the Indian jets had to 'hastily' drop the payload in an 'open area'. CNN-News18 reported quoting government sources that the Balakot Jaish camp has been completely flattened in the limited strikes conducted by Indian Air Force. The sources said that initial assessment of damages suggest at least 200 to 300 casualties. If the strikes have indeed been conducted in Pakistan's Balakot sector, then the strike was much within the Pakistani territory, reports said. Balakot is reportedly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan. Senior journalist Megha Prasad claimed that IAF has destroyed Alpha 3 Control rooms and launch pads of Jaish-e-Muhammad in at least three locations. Jaish chief Masood Azhar wrote the Fath-ul Jawwad, his disquisition on the Quranic basis of jihad, during a retreat at Balakot. He sought inspiration from the memory of Islamic revivalists Syed Ahmed Barelvi and Shah Ismail, who were killed in 1831 after waging an unsuccessful insurgency against the Sikh empire Balakote is one of the Jaish-e-Muhammad’s oldest and best-known training camps, which has found mention in many past criminal cases in India and abroad. There was limited physical infrastructure at the base—witnesses have spoken of a main tin-roof shed, a small mosque and several earth houses. This may account for the absence of official confirmation from the Defence Ministry as India has no wish to push Pakistan into a corner from where it has to hit back on Jaish-e-Mohammad’s behalf. Reuters is reporting that the Defence Ministry is saying it has no knowledge of violations of Pakistani airspace. Balakote training camp is in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, which means India has struck inside Pakistani territory, and not just occupied areas of Jammu and Kashmir. Moments after the news of a possible Indian Air Force strike within Pakistani territory spread, people startled tweeting using the #SurgicalStrike2, comparing these strikes to the one carried out by Indian Army post the Uri attack. Reports have pointed out that there is a village called Balakot in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir as well apart from the Balakote sector in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province in Pakistan. Since there has been no official word on the attacks yet, it is still unclear whether the strikes took place within occupied territory or in proper Pakistani territory. Balakot village near LoC in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir as well; no official confirmation yet "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," he said. Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah said that since it was not yet clear whether India bombed the Balakote in Pakistani territory or within the occupied territory, it was unwise to speculate. He said if the territory bombed was indeed in Pakistan occupied Kashmir, then the strike was merely symbolic. Pointless to speculate on impact of strike till it is clear which Balakot did IAF hit, says Omar Abdullah India Today reported that the Pakistan Foreign Minister has called an emergency meeting with Prime Minister Imran Khan. Meanwhile, in India the prime minister is in huddle with his own Cabinet colleagues, including Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, and Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj. Pakistan Army spokesperson, Major General Asif Ghafoor tweeted Tuesday stating that the Indian Air Force jets struck the Balakot village in Muzaffarpur sector in the Pakistan occupied territory and not in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province. Spelled as Balakote, Balakot and Bala Kot in various report, the exact location of the territory hit will only be clear when the Indian authorities take an official stand. Meanwhile, the Pakistan Army said that the 'intrusion' across LoC was in Muzaffarabad Sector within occupied Kashmir, which was just three to four miles within the Actual Line of Control. However, journalists have pointed out that the "other" Bala Kote, in Poonch, is nowhere near Muzaffarabad. Confusion over which Balakot has been hit by Indian strikes prevails. Earlier reports claimed that it was in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir, but subsequently media started claiming that the Balakote in KPK province. Reports further suggested that the terrorist groups had emptied their launchpads but not the training camps. Defence sources said that the IAF strike lasted not more than 21 minutes, right from take off till the return into Indian territory. The strike took place in Balakote, 24 kilometre northwest of Muzaffarabad at around 3: 45-3:53 am. The joint training camps of JeM, LeT and Hizbul Mujahideen were hit. - Chakoti, was he last to be hit between 3.58 am and 4.04 am - Muzaffarabad, capital of Pakistan Occupied Kashmir, was hit between 3.48 am and 3.55 am. - Balakot, which is 24 kilometre northwest of Muzaffarabad, capital of Pakistan Occupied Kashmir, was struck between 3.45 am and 3.53 am. However, there is still confusion over whether this place falls in PoK or proper Pakistani territory. Here are the three locations in Pakistan bombed by Indian Air Force today: The US army combat Journal says pre-dawn window offers maximum surprise even for boots on the ground. The Soviet Military review endorses this. Bikram It was well planned military strategy to go in at 03.30 am which is the psychological low point of alertness. The enemy is asleep, the scramble by the PAF that much slower and through history pre-dawn attacks have been of the essence. Japan attacked the US Midway Atoll around 4 am. In the Battle of the Bulge most major assaults were timed for pre-dawn. The British Harriers attacked the Falklands before the sun came up. The US 1st Special Forces were hit by a reinforced Viet Cong battalion which launched a full-scale, pre-dawn attack on the camp. The Americans were outnumbered 3 to 1. Meanwhile, Indian news agency ANI claimed that the one of the targets destroyed by IAF Mirage jets was in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. A clearer picture should emerge after the Foreign Secretary's meeting. BBC said that the Indian Air Force has confirmed to it that they crossed the Line of Control and not the International Border. Firstpost could not independently verify this report, but if indeed this is true then this means that the IAF did not hit the Balakot in KPK province. Two Indian Prime Ministers have faces similar choices. In 2001, after the attack on Parliament House, Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee was briefed on the benefits and risks of air strikes.<doc-sep>
Image Source : PTI Jammu: People chant slogans as they celebrate India's major preemptive strike on Jaish-e-Mohammed's camps A nation grieving the untimely and brutal demise of 40 brave CRPF soldiers in Pulwama terror attack has erupted in joy after the Indian Air Force struck down one of the biggest terror camps of the terrorist organisation Jaish-e-Mohammad inside the Pakistani territory. Even as the IAF strike came within the fortnight of the Pulwama attack, the government has said that the attack was pre-emptive, that is, it was carried out to avoid future suicide attacks being planned by JeM against India. Celebrations broke out across the country as news spread about the 'Surgical Strike 2.0'. People took to streets to wave the national flag and distribute sweets. Some of the business vendors have come up with special discounts on goods and services to mark the celebrations. Follow Live Updates on India's Surgical Strike 2.0 Here is a glimpse of nation's joy over the IAF strike on Pakistan: People chant slogans and offer 'laddu' to a CRPF jawan as they celebrate India's major preemptive strike on Jaish-e-Mohammed's camps, in Kolkata Bikaner: People chant slogans as they celebrate India's major preemptive strike on Jaish-e-Mohammed's camps Jammu: People chant slogans as they celebrate India's major preemptive strike on Jaish-e-Mohammed's camps People offer sweets to the jawans of paramilitary forces as they celebrate the IAF's strike on JeM camps, at Kumbh Mela in Allahabad People chant slogans as they celebrate India's major preemptive strike on Jaish-e-Mohammed's camps, in Kolkata Patna: People chant slogans as they celebrate India's major preemptive strike on Jaish-e-Mohammed's camps Students wave Tricolour and display placards while celebrating Indian Air Force (IAF)'s strike on JeM camps, at Shaurya Smarak in Bhopal India struck JeM's biggest camp in Pakistan early Tuesday in a major "preemptive" air strike killing a large number of terrorists and trainers of the Pakistan-based terror group preparing to carry out suicide attacks in this country. Giving details of the operation, Gokhale said credible intelligence was received that the JeM was planning to carry out other suicide attacks in India after the Pulwama bombing on a CRPF convoy 12 days ago that killed 40 jawans. Latest India News