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The Indian Air force conducted airstrike at 3:30 am in the morning of February 26, 2019 at terror training camps at Balakot in Pakistan as a action against the Pakistan sponsored Terror attack in Jammu & Kashmir at Pulwama on CRPF Convoy. The strikes were non-military and preemptive in nature; targeting a Jaish-e-Mohammed Camp 80 kms inside Pakistan. A very large number of JeM terrorists, trainers, senior commanders and groups of jihadis were eradicated who were preparing for launching another suicide attack targeting Indian assets. Media reported that twelve Mirage-2000 fighters, backed by four Sukhoi-30MKI jets for ‘air defence’ and two AWACS (airborne warning and control systems) aircraft as ‘eyes and ears of the strike package’, had fired a mix of long-range Spice-2000 precision-guided 1,000kg bombs and AGM-142 (Popeye-2) missiles to destroy the Balakot facility, which housed over 300 terrorists, trainers and handlers. Indian foreign secretary Vijay Gokhale briefed Foreign diplomats from the United States, United Kingdom, Russia, Australia, Indonesia, Turkey, China and six ASEAN on the strike conducted by India. Australia noted its condemnation of Pulwama attack and asked Pakistan to crack down on terrorists operating from its soil. France asked both India and Pakistan to exercise restraint, saying that it supported Indian actions against terrorism and asked Pakistan to stop allowing its territory to be used by terrorists. United States Secretary of State Mike Pompeo termed the attack as a “counter-terrorism action” and reaffirmed US-India ties. He asked both sides to show restraint.
Official spokesperson in foreign ministry of India had informed about Counter Terrorism (CT) action it took on 26 February against a training camp of Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) in Pakistan based on credible evidence that JeM intended to launch more attacks. Against this Counter Terrorism Action, Pakistan has responded in the morning of 27 February by using its Air Force to target military installations on the Indian side. The spokesperson added “Due to our high state of readiness and alertness, Pakistan’s attempts were foiled successfully.”
The Pakistan Air Force was detected and the Indian Air Force responded instantly. In that aerial engagement, one Pakistan Air Force fighter aircraft F16 was shot down by a MiG 21 Bison of the Indian Air Force. The Pakistani aircraft was seen by ground forces falling from the sky on the Pakistan side. In this engagement, India unfortunately lost one MiG 21. The ministry confirmed that the pilot was missing in action. Pakistan claimed that Indian Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman was in their custody. Pakistan had to set free Indian Air force Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman within 60 hours of capturing under international pressure created by massive Indian diplomacy. On return of Wing Commander Abhinandan PM Modi tweeted “Welcome Home Wing Commander Abhinandan!
The nation is proud of your exemplary courage. Our armed forces are an inspiration for 130 crore Indians.
Vande Mataram!
The BJP National President Shri Amit Shah wrote on his tweeter post “Dear Wing Commander Abhinandan, entire nation is proud of your courage and valour. India is glad to have you back.
May you continue to serve the nation and IAF with unparalleled passion and dedication. Best wishes for your bright future.”
Union Home Minister Shri Rajnath Singh tweeted on the return of Wing commander “Welcome Home! The entire Nation is proud of Wing Commander Abhinandan.”
Union Finance Minister Shri Arun Jaitley expressed gladness and tweeted “ India’s happiness on return of Wing Commander Abhinandan is unprecedented. I salute the courage and resilience of Wg Commander Abhinandan.”
Defense Minister Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman also welcomed Wing commander and tweeted “Proud of you Wing Commander #AbhinandanVarthaman. The entire nation appreciates your valour and grit. You held your calm in the face of adversity. You are an inspiration to our youth. Salute. Vande Mataram.”
According to media reports Over 20 Pakistani fighter jets tried to cross the Line of Control (LoC) and carry out strike at Indian military establishments using laser bombs on the morning of 27th February before being chased away by IAF jets.
On the new approach of India against terrorism, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that this is a New India and We are fully capable of protecting our nation and giving a befitting reply to those who disturb the atmosphere of peace.
@narendramodi
सौगंध मुझे इस मिट्टी की, मैं देश नहीं झुकने दूंगा…
@AmitShah
ऊरी के बाद सर्जिकल स्ट्राइक और पुलवामा के बाद एयर स्ट्राइक से पूरी दुनिया जान चुकी है कि आज भारत में 2004 से 2014 वाली सरकार नहीं बल्कि 2014 से 2019 वाली मोदी सरकार है। मोदी जी द्वारा इतने कम समय में बहादुर अभिनंदन को वापस लाना भारत की बहुत बड़ी कूटनीतिक विजय है।
Sushma Swaraj attends OIC meet amidst India’s strike on Pakistani terror camp
Amidst India’s airstrike on terror camp in Balakot in Pakistan escalating tension on border, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj attended the inaugural session of Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) states as a guest of honour in Abu Dhabi.
External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted,”Recognising India’s engagement with the Islamic world. EAM @SushmaSwaraj arrives in #AbuDhabi for the Ministerial Meeting of @OIC_OCI. India has been invited by HH Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Foreign Minister of UAE as the ‘Guest of Honour’.”
Being a founder member of OIC Pakistan tried its best to get the invite to India cancelled from the OIC meet following India’s air strike on the terror camp. But OIC did not bow down before Pakistan pressure tactics. Lastly, Pakistani foreign minister had to cancel his presence in the meeting.
The OIC had disinvited India from its conference in 1969 in Morocco at Pakistan’s behest. The OIC has usually been supportive of Pakistan and often sided with Islamabad on the Kashmir issue. But this time India global influence and friendly bilateral relationship under Modi leadership thwarted Pakistan ill-intention to blocking India engagement with Islamic world.
How media reported the strike
India conducted pre-dawn aerial strikes on a major Jaish-e-Muhammed terror training facility at Balakot in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa region on Tuesday, breaking free of its self-imposed shackles in countering the cross-border proxy war fuelled by its hostile neighbour for decades. The strikes came 12 days after the Pulwama attack claimed 40 CRPF troopers.
—Times of India
These Airstrikes Alone Won’t End Pakistan’s Sponsorship Of Terrorism. India Should Embed Such Strikes Into A Long-Term Strategy Of Increasing Pakistan’s Costs For Pursuing Subconventional Warfare.
—Hindustan Times
In an unprecedented intelligence-led pre-dawn operation tweleve days after the Pulwama terror attack,the Indian Air force (IAF) combat jets early today hit the biggest training camp..
—The Statesman
The Indian Air Force’s strike on a Jaish-e-Mohammad terror training camp in Pakistan’s Balakot delivers a robust but calibrated message…
—The Hindu
The successful strike by Indian Air Force jets against a training camp for Jaish-e-Mohammad militants in Balakot in Pakistan has set a new metric, etched a new red line, in the fraught relations between the two neighbours…
—The Indian Express
Pre-emptive’ cross-LoC airstrike a first for India.
—The Asian Age
We as a nation have been for long at the receiving end of jihadi terror attacks planned and launched from the Pakistani soil….After the Uri surgical strike in 2016, it was fairly clear that India has a new doctrine of effective visible response to terror attacks.
—The Tribune
Foreign
“Following Indian counter-terrorism actions on February 26, I spoke with Indian Minister of External Affairs Swaraj to emphasize our close security partnership and shared the goal of maintaining peace and security in the region. I also spoke to Pakistani Foreign Minister Qureshi to underscore the priority of de-escalating current tensions by avoiding military action, and the urgency of Pakistan taking meaningful action against terrorist groups operating on its soil.
– Michael R. Pompeo, U.S. Secretary of State
“France recognises India’s legitimacy to ensure its security against cross-border terrorism and asks Pakistan to put an end to the operations of terrorist groups established on its territory”.
– Spokesperson of France’s Ministry of Europe & Foreign Affairs
“Pakistan must do everything possible to implement its own proscription of Jaish-e-Mohammed. It can no longer allow extremist groups the legal and physical space to operate from its territory. Pakistan must take urgent and meaningful action against terrorist groups in its territory, including Jaish-e-Mohammed which has claimed responsibility for the 14 February bombing, and Lashkar-e-Taiba.”
– Australia