To avenge the dastardly Pulwama terror attack, according to several reports, IAF jets dropped payloads at Balakot in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan last night. 12 Mirage 2000 jets took part in the operation that dropped 1000 Kg bombs on terror camps across the LOC, completely destroying it, reported ANI. The IAF air strikes completely destroyed Balakot, Chakothi and Muzaffarabad’s terror launch pads across the LOC and JeM control rooms were also destroyed.
IAF Sources: 12 Mirage 2000 jets took part in the operation that dropped 1000 Kg bombs on terror camps across LOC, completely destroying it pic.twitter.com/BP3kIrboku
— ANI (@ANI) February 26, 2019
Sources: Balakot, Chakothi and Muzaffarabad terror launch pads across the LOC completely destroyed in IAF air strikes. JeM control rooms also destroyed pic.twitter.com/cSE0TjVsBS
— ANI (@ANI) February 26, 2019
According to senior journalist Megha Prasad the Indian Air Force (IAF) has destroyed Alpha 3 Control rooms and launch pads of Jaish-e-Muhammad in Balakot, Muzaffarabad and Chakothi.
Sources: Indian Air Force (IAF) has destroyed Alpha 3 Control rooms and launch pads of Jaish-e-Muhammad in Balakot, Muzaffarabad and Chakothi #Balakot #surgicalstrike2
— Megha Prasad (@MeghaSPrasad) February 26, 2019
Balakot is 50 KM away from PoK Muzzafarabad sector. So, basically IAF has gone inside 50 km deep and dropped bombs on Pakistani terror camps. It also means that it has attacked the Pakistani military directly. It is India’s deepest strike against Pakistan since 1971, and IAF jets returned without any casualties, that’s a very big thing. It’s a super successful mission.
https://twitter.com/Abhina_Prakash/status/1100235540530487296
According to Ankit Panda, the recent airstrikes by the IAF is a notable case of a conventional strike by one nuclear power on another. Others include the 1969 Zhenbao Island crisis between the PRC and the USSR and the 1999 India-Pakistan Kargil War. Neither saw conventional air power used against a nuclear-armed adversary’s territory.
This is notable case of a conventional strike by one nuclear power on another. Others include the 1969 Zhenbao Island crisis between the PRC and the USSR and the 1999 India-Pakistan Kargil War. Neither saw conventional airpower used against a nuclear-armed adversary’s territory.
— Ankit Panda (@nktpnd) February 26, 2019
According to a Firstpost report, Balakot 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. Balakot is of great significance for Jihadists. Ayesha Jalal in her book “Partisans of Allah” described Balakot as the epicenter of Jihad in South Asia.
Here's what the historian Ayesha Jalal has to say about Balakot
In her book "Partisans of Allah" she says
"Balakot is in many ways the epicentre of jihad in South Asia"
(Contd..)
— श्रीकान्तः (@shrikanth_krish) February 26, 2019
She further writes, “Blanketed by green, terraced fields and thick, dark forests, this beautiful town is situated about eighteen miles from the city of Mansehra in the North West Frontier Province (NWFP) of Pakistan. Situated on the banks of the river Kunhar, it serves as a gateway to the picturesque Kaghan Valley, which is bounded on the east and the south by Kashmir. It is also a point of entry into the history of jihad, struggle in the way of Allah, in the subcontinent”
"Blanketed by green, terraced fields and thick, dark forests, this beautiful town is situated about eighteen miles from the city of Mansehra in the North West Frontier Province (NWFP) of Pakistan."
— श्रीकान्तः (@shrikanth_krish) February 26, 2019
"Situated on the banks of the river Kunhar, it serves as a gateway to the picturesque Kaghan Valley, which is bounded on the east and the south by Kashmir. It is also a point of entry into the history of jihad, struggle in the way of Allah, in the subcontinent"
— श्रीकान्तः (@shrikanth_krish) February 26, 2019
“Balakot’s association with the idea and practice of jihad in South Asia was reinforced in the 1990s, when militant groups set up training camps in its environs to prepare for their campaign against the Indian security forces stationed in.. Kashmir.”
Here's more –
"Balakot’s association with the idea and practice of jihad in South Asia was reinforced in the 1990s, when militant groups set up training camps in its environs to prepare for their campaign against the Indian security forces stationed in.. Kashmir."
— श्रीकान्तः (@shrikanth_krish) February 26, 2019
Masood Azhar and Abdul Rauf Asghar would regularly address JeM cadres at the training camp at Balakot.
Might be relevant: Masood Azhar and Abdul Rauf Asghar would regularly address JeM cadres at the training camp at #Balakot. https://t.co/6VJih2VaMR
— Dhruva Jaishankar · ध्रुव जयशंकर (@d_jaishankar) February 26, 2019
There has been news of activities conducted by JeM in Balakot from 2001 onwards.
There's plenty of intel on JeM activities at #Balakot from 2001 onwards, and not just by India. Al-Murabitoon (JeM branch) rallies, training, etc. on a facility at Besyan Chowk in Balakot. Attacks on LoC, against Americans in Afghanistan, and in Pakistan were planned there.
— Dhruva Jaishankar · ध्रुव जयशंकर (@d_jaishankar) February 26, 2019
According to senior journalist Aditya Raj Kaul, Maulana Masood Azhar used to spend a lot of time in Balakot around 2001 which later stopped. Lately the Jaish-e-Muhammad camp in Syed Ahmed Shaheed in Balakot has been made operational yet again for Military grade training for Jihadi terrorists after indoctrination.
Maulana Masood Azhar used to spend a lot of time in Balakot around 2001 which later stopped. More lately Jaish-e-Muhammad camp in Syed Ahmed Shaheed in Balakot has been made operational yet again for Military grade training for Jihadi terrorists after indoctrination.
— Aditya Raj Kaul (@AdityaRajKaul) February 26, 2019
Visuals of the attack are out now. The Defence Ministry will issue a statement soon. Coming on the heels of getting threats from Pakistan about attacking it and starting a war with it, India has shown them who the boss is. India has shown them that every time they attack India, we can strike back irrespective of the nuclear threat. PM Modi has called the enemy’s bluff, it’s over for Pakistan.
