In first cross-border air strikes since 1971, Indian Air Force smashes Jaish-e-Muhammed terror camps in Pakistan  

Mirage 2000s of the Indian Air Force flying in a formation.

New Delhi: Twelve days after Pakistan-based terrorist group Jaish-e-Muhammed carried out the suicide bombing on CRPF personnel in Jammu & Kashmir’s Pulwama, combat jets of Indian Air Force bombed terror camps at multiple locations in Pakistan, in a pre-dawn strike on Tuesday. This is the first time Indian warplanes crossed the border/line of control with Pakistan since the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War to launch an air strike inside the country.

The government sources said that as many as 12 IAF’s Mirage 2000 fighter jets pounded the terror camps in Balakot, Muzaffarabad and Chakoti in the well-planned strike destroying JeM terror camp.

The sources also indicated that the operation was carried out between 3.50am and 4.05am and was first revealed by the spokesman for Pakistani armed forces, Major General Asif Ghafoor, in a tweet. He said: “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.”

Indian Air Force violated Line of Control. Pakistan Air Force immediately scrambled. Indian aircrafts gone back. Details to follow.

— Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor (@OfficialDGISPR) February 25, 2019

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.

— Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor (@OfficialDGISPR) February 26, 2019

India’s foreign secretary Vijay Gokhale said the air strikes on the terror camps in Pakistan killed a “very large number of JeM terrorists, trainers, senior commanders” and “groups of jihadis who were being trained for fidayeen (suicide) action were eliminated”.

Full statement from foreign secretary Vijay Gokhale on the Indian Air Force strikes in Pakistan:

On 14 February 2019, a suicide terror attack was conducted by a Pak based terrorist organization Jaish-e-Muhammed, 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 India’s Parliament in December 2001 and the Pathankot airbase in January 2016.

Information regarding the location of training camps in Pakistan and PoJK (Pakistan-occupied Jammu & Kashmir) 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 (Tuesday), 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.

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