The Indian Air Force jets crossed the Line of Control (LoC) after 48 years, and bombed “biggest Jaish-e-Mohammed’s terror camp” during early hours of Tuesday, 26 February. The operation was monitored by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Air Force Chief BS Dhanoa.
PM Modi monitored the Indian Air Force operation all night, PTI reported quoting government sources. Later, while addressing a rally in Rajasthan’s Churu, he said, “Today, I assure the countrymen, the country is in safe hands.”
The Indian Air Force used 12 Mirage 2000 Indian Fighter jets to drop 1,000 kg bombs, destroying terror camps across the LoC on the Pakistani side at 3:30 am.
Catch all the updates on the IAF strikes here.
At 5:30 am on Tuesday, 26 February, Pakistan Army’s Major General Asif Ghafoor said that “Indian aircrafts intruded from Muzaffarabad sector” and that payload was “released" which "fell near Balakot.”
This comes 12 days after the Pulwama attack which claimed lives of at least 40 CRPF personnel on Thursday, 14 February.
A day after the attack, PM Modi had chaired a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security, in which it was decided that India needs to send a strong message, NDTV reported.
Reacting to the strike, Ghafoor said, Pakistan will “surprise” India with its response that will be in all domains including “diplomatic, political and military.”
(With inputs from PTI, NDTV)
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