Yusuf Azhar’s facility in Balakot was the IAF’s main target

Indian Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale on Tuesday said that IAF had struck the biggest training camp of Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) in Balakot.” Vijay Gokhale told a press briefing that “a large number of JeM terrorists, trainers and senior commanders were eliminated in the largest JeM camp in Balakot. The camp was led by Maulana Yousuf Azhar alias Ustad Ghouri, brother in law of JeM chief Masood Azhar.” He also said, “The selection of the target was also conditioned by our desire to avoid civilian casualty. It’s located in deep forest on a hilltop.”

Yusuf Azhar alias Mohammad Salim alias Ustaad Gohri was one of the hijackers IC-814 in 1999. He was infact, mastermind of the infamous Kandhar hijack. The JeM chief- Maulana Masood Azhar- was then released by India in exchange for the hijacked plane passengers.

In February 2008, while three people were awarded life imprisonment in the Kandhar hijacking case, seven other perpetrators, including the brother in law of JeM chief, remained absconding. Another main accused in the Kandhar hijacking case was Abdul Rauf, brother of JeM chief Masood Azhar.

According to The Hindu report, in 2002, Indian government gave a list of 20 fugitives to Pakistan which featured Yusuf Azhar’s name. In 2000, the Interpol also issued red notice against him on the request of Central Bureau of Investigation. The notice said that Yusuf Azhar was born in Karachi, Pakistan, and he is wanted for crimes like hijacking, kidnapping, and murder.

The air-strike conducted by the Indian Air Force was the first wave of pre-emptive non-military action by India in order to get rid of the likes of  Yusuf Azhar. In the MEA briefing, FS Gokhale said, “The Information about JeM’s operations has been provided to Pakistan from time to time but it has always denied knowledge of their existence”.

Speaking of the need of the strike, Foreign Secretary went on to add, “Credible Intel was received that JeM was planning more suicide attacks in India. In the face of imminent danger, a pre-emptive strike became absolutely necessary”.

Post the Pulwama attack, it had become clear that India will take up a new policy characterized by more vigor and aggression against Pakistan. India’s Pakistan policy reached a point of no return and this has been manifested by the destruction that India unleashed on the Pakistani terror camps right inside their territory. Moreover, international opinion is heavily in India’s favour. The entire world understands that Pakistan has been testing India’s patience for far too long. And now India won’t hold back. For every attempt by Pakistan to attack India, India will hit back in a brutal manner shattering the terrorist country to the core.