Surgical strike 2.0: Nation in safe hands, assures PM Narendra Modi

In this handout photograph released by Pakistan's Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) on February 26, 2019, a view of damage caused to trees in hilly terrain after Indian air force dropped their payload in Balakot area. Pic/ AFP

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi assured that the country is in safe hands hours after the Indian Air Force destroyed the biggest Jaish-e-Mohammed terror camp in Balakot, Pakistan.

"I assure you that the nation is in safe hands. I won't let the country to bow down," said the prime minister while addressing a rally in Rajasthan.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Photo: AFP

The Indian Air Force on Tuesday carried out aerial strikes at major terror camps in Pakistan occupied Kashmir, around 3.30 am on Tuesday, completely destroying them. According to IAF sources, 12 Mirage 2000 jets took part in the operation that dropped 1000 Kg bombs on terror camps across LoC (Line of Control).

Foreign Secretary of India Vijay Gokhale briefed the media about the airstrike operation. He said that an intelligence lead operation was carried out in the early hours of Tuesday by the Indian Air Force which struck the biggest training camp of Jaish-e-Mohammed in Balakot. In this operation, a very large number of JeM terrorists, trainers, senior commander and Jihadis were eliminated.

Watch the full video here...

Indian action came 12 days after Pakistan based Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) carried out a terror attack on a CRPF convoy in Pulwama in Kashmir, killing 40 personnel and injuring five others. The terror attack had led to nationwide outrage and Prime Minister Narendra Modi had vowed to punish those behind the attack.

Entire world community had expressed solidarity with India after the attack. The US has said it supports India's "Right to self-defence" in the back of the attack.

Following the air strikes, the Indian Air Force put on high alert all air defence systems along the international border and LoC to respond to any possible action by Pakistan Air Force.

The move by Indian Air Force was hailed by politicians and civilians alike. Here's what Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, New Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and other political leaders tweeted...

Pakistan Army confirmed that Indian Air Force fighters penetrated the Line of Control (LoC) and dropped "payloads" in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) early this morning. Pakistan Army spokesman Major General Asif Ghafoor, however, claimed that "no infrastructure got hit" and that there were "no casualties".

In a tweet, Gafoor said Indian aircraft went "3-4 miles" across the LoC in Muzafarabad Sector of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). "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," he added in the tweet. In an earlier tweet he said, "Indian aircrafts 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".

Non military pre-emptive action was absolutely necessary to eliminate Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorist.

Also read: Twitter reacts to aerial strike at terror camps in Pakistan by Indian Air Force

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