India strikes back: IAF Mirage 2000 jets bomb terror camp in Pakistan

India on February 26 carried out a daring, pre-dawn cross-border air strike at the biggest terrorist training camp of the Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) at Balakot, in Pakistan, over 80 km across the Line of Control. These are India's first air strikes against Pakistan since the 1971 War, and come 12 days after a JeM suicide attack killed 40 Indian troopers moving in a transit convoy at Pulwama in Kashmir.

A "very large number" of Jaish terrorists and their senior commanders were eliminated in the bombing reportedly carried out by 12 Mirage 2000 fighters of the Indian Air Force (IAF) in a 10-minute operation about 3:30 am. The leader of the Balakot camp was Maulana Yousuf Azha alias Ustad Ghouri, the brother-in-law of JeM chief Maulana Masood Azhar. There is no word on his fate. Reports suggest that over 300 terrorists were present at the camp when it was hit by Indian laser-guided bombs.

India's Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale termed the air strike as "non-military preemptive action" that "was specifically targeted at the JeM camp", citing "credible intelligence" about the Jaisah attempting more suicide terror attacks in various parts of India. "In the face of imminent danger, a preemptive strike became absolutely necessary," he said, explaining the cause of action.

"The selection of the target was also conditioned by our desire to avoid civilian casualties. This facility is located in thick forest on a hilltop far away from any civilian presence," the Foreign Secretary said in a televised statement.

Through this statement, India sent across the message that it had not targeted either the Pakistan military or its civilians, and was only moving against the UN-proscribed terrorist group to prevent more terror attacks on Indian soil.

The JeM camp at Balakot is said to be the biggest factory for producing suicide terrorists directed against India. The alleged mastermind of the Pulwama attack, Abdul Rasheed Ghazi, who was gunned down by Indian security forces four days after the suicide attack, is also reported to be a product of this camp which was destroyed in the air strike.

Pakistan went public with the air strike before the Indian statement. In a series of Tweets, Director-General of Pakistan's Inter-Services Public Relations Major General Asif Ghafoor claimed Pakistan Air Force jets forced the Indian raiders to flee, and there were no casualties or damage to infrastructure as a consequence of the Indian bombing.

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' intrusion across LOC in Muzafarabad Sector within AJ&K was 3-4 miles.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.

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

"Indian aircrafts' intrusion across LOC in Muzafarabad Sector within AJ&K was 3-4 miles.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 (sic)," Major General Ghafoor stated.

Foreign Secretary Gokhale explained the need for India's cross-border air strike in terms of Pakistan's inaction against terrorists operating from its soil. Information regarding the location of training camps in Pakistan and PoK 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 jihadis 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.

"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," the Foreign Secretary demanded.

Statement by Foreign Secretary on February 26, 2019 on the Strike on JeM training camp at Balakot

Vijay Gokhale, Indian Foreign Secretary

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

Information regarding the location of training camps in Pakistan and PoK 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 jihadis 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, 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.