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Tue, 26 February 2019
Mumbai, Gujarat on alert after air strike in Pakistan
Timeline Refresh
23:50 Mumbai, Gujarat on alert after air strike in Pakistan
The Western Naval Command is on "high alert and fully prepared" to tackle any eventuality after India's air strikes on terror camps in Pakistan, an official said on Tuesday.
Police in Gujarat, which borders Pakistan, also issued a "high alert" across the state following the air strikes.
The Mumbai Police are also on a high alert following the air strikes, the official said.
"The Western Naval Command remains alert 24X7. Now, it is fully prepared to deal with any untoward situation in the wake of the air strikes in Pakistan," he said.
Celebrations were held in Mumbai and adjoining Thane after the air strikes.
Gujarat police issued a "high alert" across the state after India's air strikes.
22:53 Air strikes: Pak expresses reservation about OIC's invitation to India
Pakistan's Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said on Tuesday that he has spoken to his UAE counterpart and "expressed reservations" about invitation to India's External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj to attend the OIC meeting scheduled later this week.
In a strategically significant development, India has been invited to the inaugural plenary of the foreign ministers' conclave of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, a powerful grouping of Muslim majority nations, in Abu Dhabi from March 1 to 2. Swaraj will attend the meeting as the 'guest of honour'.
Addressing a press conference here after a special meeting of the National Security Committee in the wake of India's air strikes inside Pakistan early Tuesday, Qureshi said the situation has changed now.
"Aggression has been done against a founding member of the OIC," he said, referring to the Indian attack that destroyed Jaish-e-Mohammed's biggest training camp in Balakot in Pakistan's restive Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, killing a "very large number" of terrorists, trainers and commanders.
Qureshi said that he has spoken to the foreign minister of the UAE and expressed Pakistan's reservations for inviting the Indian foreign minister as chief of guest in the OIC meeting.
The OIC is a grouping of 57 countries, majority of which are Muslim majority. It has usually been supportive of Pakistan and, often sided with Islamabad on the Kashmir issue.
-- PTI
22:32 Theresa May changes strategy to offer MPs chance to delay Brexit
British Prime Minister Theresa May made a dramatic shift in her Brexit strategy on Tuesday and offered MPs the chance vote for a delay to the March 29 exit deadline if her deal failed to clear the House of Commons next month.
In a statement to British Parliament, May announced that her government would table a "meaningful vote" on the final withdrawal agreement reached with the European Union on March 12.
If that vote fails to be passed by MPs, May said she would table an amendment the following day, March 13, for MPs to vote on whether they are prepared to leave the EU without any deal in place.
In the event that MPs reject such an amendment, which is widely expected, a vote will be held on March 14 for MPs to have their say on an extension to the Article 50 process to delay the Brexit deadline. The government would then bring forward the necessary legislation to change the exit date by a "short limited" period.
"Let me be clear, I do not want to see Article 50 extended. Our absolute focus should be on working to get a deal and leaving on March 29," May said in her Commons statement.
"An extension cannot take no deal off the table. The only way to do that is to revoke Article 50, which I shall not do, or agree a deal," she said, effectively offering the UK Parliament a stark choice between her deal, no deal or a delayed Brexit.
The move came as there was mounting rebellion within her own Conservative Party ranks, with ministers within her Cabinet calling for her to take a chaotic no-deal Brexit off the table. Her statement came soon after a Cabinet meeting during which Brexiteer ministers reportedly accused their anti-Brexit colleagues of undermining the Prime Minister and attempting to push her into ruling out no deal.
May's latest set of amendment offerings for next month avoids a defeat for the government on Wednesday, which could see MPs voting to take control of the Brexit process when a series of votes will be held in the Commons.
The British prime minister, who has remained stubbornly opposed to any delay to the Brexit deadline, warned on Tuesday that an extension to the Article 50 process beyond the end of June would mean the UK taking part in the European Parliament elections, which are scheduled for May 23.
She said: "What kind of message would that send to the more than 17 million people who voted to leave the EU nearly three years ago now? And the House should be clear that a short extension not beyond the end of June would almost certainly have to be a one-off.
"If we had not taken part in the European Parliament elections, it would be extremely difficult to extend again, so it would create a much sharper cliff edge in a few months' time."
The government's strategic shift came as the Opposition Labour Party also made a significant change in its policy and announced that it would back a second referendum on Britain's membership of the EU.
-- PTI
22:06 France condemns Pulwama attack, asks Pak to put an end to terror groups
France has condemned the "terrible" Pulwama terror attack that killed 40 Indian soldiers and asked Pakistan to put an end to the terrorist groups operating from its soil.
Forty CRPF personnel were killed on February 14 in Jammu and Kashmir when a suicide bomber of Pakistan-based terror group Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) rammed an explosive-laden vehicle into their bus in Pulwama district, sparking outrage in the country.
"France most firmly condemns the terrible attack perpetrated on February 14 against Indian security forces in Pulwama, for which the terrorist group, Jaish-e-Mohammed, has claimed responsibility," said the acting spokesperson of the ministry of europe and foreign affairs.
"France recognises India's legitimacy to ensure its security against crossborder terrorism and asks Pakistan to put an end to the operations of terrorist groups established on its territory," the official said in a statement.
France, which stands by India in the fight against terrorism in all its forms, is fully engaged in mobilising the international community to sanction the terrorists responsible for this attack and freezing their financing networks, it said.
-- PTI
21:41 15 years ago, US took note of JeM's terror training camp in Balakot
Fifteen years ago, the major terrorist training camp of the Jaish-e-Mohammed in Balakot in Pakistan found a mention in a purported secret US Defence Department file leaked by WikiLeaks.
The memorandum talks about a Pakistani national Hafez K Rahman, a Guantanamo Detainee, who was 20 years old and born in Gujrar, Pakistan, who turned out to be a jihadi.
The January 31, 2004 document, signed by Major General Geoffery Miller of the US Army says Rahman received training in Balakot, Pakistan, a location known to house a "training camp that offers both basic and advanced terrorist training on explosives and artillery."
It says Rahman has admitted to volunteering to fight jihad against the US and its allies, remaining after the events of September 1lth to continue to fight, and receiving training from the Jaish-e-Mohammed.
The JEM espouses Jihad against the US and is directly supported by Al Qaeda, Gen Miller wrote.
It says Rahman was influenced by extremist Mullahs in Pakistan and decided he would go to Jihad in support of the Taliban.
Thousands of sensitive diplomatic cables, especially those of the US State Department and Department of Defence, were published by the secretive site WikiLeaks, which has established a reputation for publishing sensitive material from governments and other high-profile organisations.
-- PTI
21:20 Indian films will not release in Pakistan: Pak govt after Indian air strikes
The Pakistan government on Tuesday said no film from India will release in the country as it has called for a ban on Indian content after the Indian air force destroyed a terror training camp in Balakot.
The country's information and broadcasting minister Chaudhry Fawad Hussain said the country's film exhibitors association will be boycotting the Indian films.
He also said that he has instructed the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority to crackdown on "made-in-India advertisements".
"Cinema Exhibitors Association has boycotted Indian content, no Indian movie will be released in Pakistan. Also have instructed PEMRA to act against Made in India Advertisements. #PakistanTayarHai" Hussain tweeted.
The minister's comments came on a day when India bombed and destroyed Jaish-e-Mohammed's biggest training camp in Balakot in Pakistan's restive Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, about 80-km from the Line of Control.
21:05 Avoid taking action that will pose risk to regional stability: UK tells India, Pak
The UK government on Tuesday urged India and Pakistan to avoid taking action that will pose a risk to regional stability and said it was working with international partners to ensure that those responsible for the Pulwama terror attack are held to account.
In its latest statement, the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office said it was engaged in talks with both sides.
"We are concerned by rising tensions. We are encouraging both sides to avoid taking action that will pose a risk to regional stability," an FCO spokesperson said.
"The UK is working closely with international partners, including in the United Nations Security Council, to ensure that those responsible for the Pulwama attack are held to account," the spokesperson said.
Earlier, the FCO said in a statement, UK Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt held telephonic conversations with External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi on Monday.
"The Foreign Secretary highlighted the UK's concern about the enduring threat to regional stability from terrorism.
"He encouraged Pakistan and India to improve cooperation and find diplomatic solutions that will create greater stability and trust in the region," the FCO said hours before Indian fighter jets struck Jaish-e-Mohammed's biggest camp in Pakistan in a pre-dawn attack.
-- PTI
20:40 Common Minimum Programme dropped as agenda for opposition meet, air strikes to be discussed now
The opposition parties have decided to drop the formulation of the Common Minimum Programme as the agenda for their meeting on Wednesday and will now discuss the strikes against the terror camps in Pakistan instead, sources said.
Senior leaders in the opposition confirmed that in a discussion with the Congress, the CPI-M and the CPI said that they will only be part of the meeting if Common Minimum Programme is off the table.
With the change in agenda, sources said Left parties are now on board.
Opposition leaders who are set to attend meeting are Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu, NCP chief Sharad Pawar, CPI-M General Secretary Sitaram Yechury, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, among others.
Sources indicated that through out the day Congress was in two minds about the meeting as they felt that it would be bad optics to criticise the government or Prime Minister Narendra Modi soon after the strikes in Pakistan which even the opposition parties have lauded.
"The problem is that not holding the meeting would also mean receding space to the BJP. From the beginning we were saying that let the opposition meeting be on Pulwama," said an opposition leader.
-- PTI
20:12 Swaraj speaks to counterparts in US, China, Singapore, Bangladesh, Afghanistan
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Tuesday spoke to her counterparts in the US, China, Singapore, Bangladesh and Afghanistan and briefed them about the pre-dawn strike on the Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorist training camp in Pakistan, official sources said.
In her telephonic conversation with US Secretary of Mike Pompeo, Swaraj explained the reasons behind the strike and conveyed that the action was specifically targeted at the JeM camp.
She also spoke to Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and apprised him about the "non-military, preemptive air strikes" , the sources said.
They said she also briefed her counterparts from Singapore, Bangladesh and Afghanistan on the strike.
Separately, the Foreign Secretary apprised the envoys of all major countries including from the United States, Russia, China, France and the United Kingdom, the sources said.
Envoys of Sri Lanka, Maldives, Afghanistan, Bhutan, Turkey and Indonesia were also briefed about the air strike.
-- PTI
19:56 Modi meets military chiefs after air strike
Prime Minister Narendra Modi met the three military chiefs this evening, hours after the Indian Air Force crossed the Line of Control and conducted "non-military, pre-emptive air strikes" in Balakot on the biggest training camp of terror group Jaish-e-Mohammed, killing over 300 terrorists including Jaish chief Masood Azhar's brother-in-law.
This afternoon, PM Modi had said at a rally in Rajasthan's Churu: "I assure you, the country is in safe hands."
The meeting with the military chiefs comes after Pakistan said that it will "respond at a time and place of its choosing". Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan had held a meeting of the National Security Committee that included the chiefs of all three armed forces and other officials.
19:33 Pak summons India's diplomat over violation of its territorial sovereignty
Pakistan on Tuesday summoned India's acting high commissioner and condemned the "violation of its territorial sovereignty" by Indian fighter jets.
In a statement, the Foreign Office said that at "approximately 02:54 hours (local time), 8 Indian aircraft were effectively intercepted by the Pakistani Air Force jets and forced" to return.
The Indian jets "randomly released their ordinance which landed in an uninhabited remote area," it added.
"The Acting Foreign Secretary summoned the Indian Acting High Commissioner and strongly condemned the Indian violation of Pakistan's sovereignty and territorial integrity," it said.
It said that the "baseless, reprehensible Indian claims of targeting a large terrorist camp and resultant causalities to placate Indian domestic audience and electioneering were strongly rebutted."
The Acting Foreign Secretary categorically stated that Indian "aggression was a threat to regional peace and stability and would get a befitting response by Pakistan at a time and place of its choosing."
The official also condemned the "baseless" Indian allegations against Pakistan's involvement in the Pulwama terror attack.
India bombed and destroyed Jaish-e-Mohammed's biggest training camp in Balakot in Pakistan's restive Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, about 80-km from the Line of Control, early Tuesday, killing a "very large number" of terrorists, trainers and senior commanders, officials said in New Delhi.
-- PTI
19:13
JUST IN: Pakistan resorts to heavy shelling in nearly 55 forward areas along LoC in J-K: Army sources.
19:08 3 Pak civilians injured in shelling by Indian army
F Jeffery, Deputy Director & Head South Asia Desk, tweets that three Pakistanis including a woman have been injured in Indian shelling in Khoiratta sector along LoC. Clashes between Indian and Pakistani armies continue at multiple locations along LoC.
19:04 Happy all parties in one voice praised security forces: Sushma
Sushma Swaraj on the just-concluded all-party meeting on the air strike: "I am happy that all parties in one voice praised the security forces and supported the Govt's anti-terror operations," she said. In the all party meeting today Swaraj informed the leaders that she spoke to US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo over the Indian air strikes on JeM terror camps in Balakot.
Ghulam Nabi Azad, Congress, said, "We have appreciated the efforts by the forces, they always have our support to end terrorism. Another good thing is that it was a clean operation which specifically targeted terrorists and terror camps. "
18:38 Balakot terror camp turns into no-go area, tweets journo
Faseeh Mangi, journalist working with Bloomberg based in Pakistan, tweets these images from the Balakot area of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa where the IAF strike on the Jaish-e-Mohammed terror camp took place today.
Mangi tweeted, "Location confirmed: The Indian plane attack happened in a hilly area outside the main Balakot town in Pakistan's Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province. That very site is a no-go area now, an eye witness tells me and shares some photos."
In a pinpointed and swift air strike that lasted less than two minutes, India pounded Jaish-e-Mohammed's biggest training camp in Pakistan early Tuesday, killing up to 350 terrorists and trainers who were moved there for their protection after the Pulwama attack, officials said.
The pre-dawn operation, described as "non-military" and "preemptive", struck a five-star resort style camp on a hilltop forest that provided Indian forces with a "sitting duck target" and caught the terrorists in their sleep, sources said.
Image: The Balakot terror camp was located in a hilly, forested area, 20 km from Balakot town. This picture of Balakot where the air strike took place was tweeted by journalist Faseeh Mangi
18:14 Sushma briefs opposition leaders on Balakot air strike
Union Minister for External Affairs Sushma Swaraj briefed the opposition at an all-party meeting this evening in the wake of a "non-military, preemptive action' by Indian forces on a major Jaish-e-Mohammed terror camp in Balakot across the Line of Control. The meeting was held at Jawaharlal Nehru Bhawan in Delhi. With the Foreign minister were Home Minister Rajnath Singh and Finance minister Arun Jaitley.
West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC patron Mamata Banerjee did not attend the meeting despite making it to New Delhi by evening, but party MP Derek O'Brien was in attendance. From the Congress, there was Ghulam Nabi Azad, from the NC Omar Abdullah, and from the CPI D Raja, among others.
In a swift and precise air strike following the Pulwama attack, India bombed and destroyed Jaish-e-Mohammed's biggest training camp in Pakistan early Tuesday, killing at least 350 terrorists including trainers and senior commanders.
Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale said credible intelligence was received that the JeM was planning to carry out other suicide attacks in India after the Pulwama bombing on a CRPF convoy 12 days ago that killed 40 jawans. "In an intelligence-led operation in the early hours of today (Tuesday), India struck the biggest training camp of JeM in Balakot," Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale said. "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." -- PTI
17:53
There's been a ceasefire violation by Pakistan in Nowshera sector and Akhnoor sector.
17:53 IAF strikes: J-K govt tells people to stay calm, not to believe in rumours
The Jammu and Kashmir administration on Tuesday advised people in the state to stay calm and not to believe in rumours in the aftermath of the Indian Air Force's strikes on a Jaish-e-Mohammed's terror camp in Pakistan.
Anxious residents of Srinagar and other major towns in the Kashmir valley could be seen discussing the latest developments amid heightened tension between India and Pakistan following the February 14 Pulwama terror attack in which 40 CRPF jawans were killed.
"We hope that it ends here and there is no more escalation. If there is escalation in hostilities, it will be the people on either side of the Line of Control who will suffer the most," Abdul Gani Dar (80), who has witnessed all wars between India and Pakistan, said.
Many residents, including former chief minister Omar Abdullah, took to social media to express their fears about the possibility of a full blown confrontation between the two nuclear powers. "The problem now becomes PM Imran Khan's commitment to his country - 'Pakistan will not think about responding, Pakistan WILL respond'. What shape will response take? Where will response be? Will India have to respond to Pakistan's response?" Abdullah wrote on his Twitter handle.
Chief Secretary B V R Subrahmanyam Tuesday asked people to remain stress free and go about their normal activities.
17:41 Six Punjab border districts on high alert after IAF strike
Punjab has its put its six border districts on high alert in the wake of the Indian Air Force's strikes on a Jaish-e-Mohammed terror camp in Pakistan, officials said.
As part of the state's preparedness to deal with any contingency in view of the IAF strike, Chief Minister Amarinder Singh chaired a high-level law and order review meeting and ordered a spate of measures.
The meeting arrived at the conclusion that there was no need to panic and decided against evacuating the border areas, an official spokesperson said. However, six districts -- Ferozepur, Tarn Taran, Amritsar, Gurdaspur, Pathankot, Fazilka -- were put on high alert, the spokesperson said.
They said the deputy commissioners and the police chiefs of the border districts have been asked to put in place all contingency plans to ensure the protection and safety of the citizens.
As a confidence-building measure, the chief minister will himself visit the border areas from Pathankot to Ferozepur by road tomorrow, the spokesperson said. -- PTI
17:30 Business as usual on cross-LoC trade: Officials
It was business as usual on Srinagar-Muzaffarabad road on Tuesday as 70 trucks crossed the LoC between Jammu and Kashmir and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir at Kaman Post, hours after IAF pounded Jaish-e-Mohammad terror camps in Pakistan.
As many as 35 trucks carrying goods from Salamabad Trade Facilitation Centre at Uri entered PoK as part of the cross-Line of Control trade between the divided parts of the state, officials said.
They said an equal number of trucks arrived from the other side at the trade facilitation centre on the Indian side. The exchange of goods, which is held on barter basis, takes place from Tuesday to Friday every week.
The trade on Srinagar-Muzaffarabad road was started in October 2008 as a confidence building measure as part of the composite Indo-Pak dialogue.
The trade has been suspended several times in the past whenever there was any tension between the two countries like in the aftermath of 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks. In a swift and precise air strike following the Pulwama attack, India bombed and destroyed Jaish-e-Mohammed's biggest training camp in Pakistan early Tuesday, killing a "very large number" of terrorists, trainers and senior commanders, officials said earlier in New Delhi.
The operation, described as a non-military, preemptive strike, was welcomed by the entire political spectrum and military experts who had been advocating retribution after the February 14 suicide attack on a CRPF convoy in Pulwama claimed by JeM. -- PTI
File pic.
17:24 Australia asks India, Pak to exercise restraint
Australia Tuesday urged both India and Pakistan to exercise restraint after Indian Air Force carried out a pre-dawn strike on the biggest training camp of terror group Jaish-e-Mohammed in Balakot. "Australia urges both sides to exercise restraint, avoid any action which would endanger peace and security in the region and engage in dialogue to ensure that these issues are resolved peacefully," the Australian Foreign Ministry said. It said Pakistan must take urgent and meaningful action against terrorist groups in its territory, including Jaish-e-Mohammed, which has claimed responsibility for the February 14 terror attack in Pulwama, and Lashkar-e-Taiba. -- PTI
Image: Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne
17:15 All that you wanted to know about the Balakot terror camp
The Balakot-based Jaish-e-Mohammad terror camp destroyed by the Indian Air Force Tuesday was used for "battle inoculation" and its trainers were retired officers of the Pakistan Army, government sources said.
Location: On the banks of Kunhar river in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan.
Purpose: The camp was used by the Jaish-e-Mohammed and Hizbul Mujahideen.
Numbers: The sources said at least 325 terrorists and 25 to 27 trainers were at the camp, the biggest operated by the JeM.
Facilities: The camp offered aquatic training to its inmates, accommodation for new recruits and facilities to train them. The facility at Balakot, located in a thick forest on a hilltop far from civilian presence.
Faculty: Headed by Maulana Yousuf Azhar, alias Ustad Ghouri, the brother-in-law of JeM chief Masood Azhar.The statement did not say if Yousuf Azhar was among those killed. Several "inspirational lectures" were delivered by JeM founder and terror mastermind Masood Azhar and other terrorist leaders on several occasions.
Training: Terrorists in the Balakot camp were imparted the advanced 'Daura-e-Khaas' training in weapons, explosives and field tactics, attack on convoys of security forces, planting and making of IEDs, suicide bombing, rigging vehicles for suicide attacks and survival tactics in high altitudes and extreme-stress situations.
The JeM is proscribed by the UN and has been responsible of a series of terrorist attacks, including on the Indian Parliament in December 2001 and the Pathankot airbase in January 2016.
17:09 How the IAF confused Pak and bombed Balakot
India received intelligence that the JeM had shifted many in-training terrorists and hardcore operatives, along with their trainers, to the camp, about 20 km from Balakot town, which has facilities for 500 to 700 people and even a swimming pool, sources said.
In a synchronised operation, fighter and other aircraft took off from several air bases in Western and Central commands at about the same time, leaving Pakistani defence officials confused about where they were heading, they said.
A small group of aircraft broke away from the swarm and headed to Balakot where "the sleeping terrorists were sitting ducks for the Indian bombing", said one source.
The entire operation, it is learnt, was over in 20 minutes, starting at 3.45 am and ending at 4.05 am.
At least 325 terrorists and 25 to 27 trainers were at the camp, sources told PTI.
16:35 Sensex falls after air strikes
As India celebrates the air strike in Balakt, the benchmark BSE Sensex was none to happy.
The Sensex ended 240 points lower as investor sentiment weakened after the India carried out air strikes on a terrorist camp in Pakistan. Weak cues from global equities and selling pressure on financials and realty stocks too weighed on market mood here.
After cracking nearly 500 points, the 30-share Sensex pared some losses but ended 239.67 points, or 0.66 per cent, lower at 35,973.71. It hit a low of 35,714.16 and a high of 36,172.52. The gauge surged 342 points in Monday's trade. The 50-share Nifty also fell 44.80 points, or 0.41 per cent, to 10,835.30 after hovering between 10,729.30 and 10,888.75. -- PTI
16:25 IAF jets dropped 6 bombs on Pak terror camp
Govt sources tell news agency ANI that a total of six bombs were dropped on the Pakistan-based terrorist camp Balakot by the Indian Air Force Mirage 2000s.
Hundreds of Fidayeen and their trainers were shifted from Pakistan Occupied Kashmir to a five-star, resort style camp in a hilltop forest in Balakot after the Pulwama attack, providing Indian forces with "a sitting duck target" when they carried out an air strike early Tuesday, killing up to 350 terrorists, sources said.
They said at least 325 terrorists and 25 to 27 trainers were at the camp, the biggest operated by the Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad group, which had claimed responsibility for the February 14 suicide attack on a CRPF convoy in Pulwama, Kashmir that killed 40 jawans.
Everyone at the camp was sleeping and Pakistani defence establishment had no clue that the attack was coming so deep into their country because they had expected a surgical strike on camps in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir near the Line of Control, said the sources who are close to the government.
But India received intelligence that JeM had shifted many in-training terrorists and hardcore operatives, along with their trainers, to the Balakot camp, which has facilities for 500 to 700 people, and even has a swimming pool along with cooks and cleaners.
Fighter and other aircraft took off from several air bases in Western and Central commands at about the same time, leaving Pakistani defence officials confused as to where they were heading, the sources said.
A small group of aircraft broke away from the swarm and headed to Balakot where "the sleeping terrorists were sitting ducks for the Indian bombing," said one source. "They had no idea that Balakot was to be the target ... when the pictures come in you will see only khandhar (ruins) of the once-flourishing camp", said the source. -- PTI
Image: The terror camp in Balakot. Pic: ANI
16:08 Six bombs dropped in Batalkot
ANI quoting government sources reports a total of six bombs were dropped on Pakistan based terrorist camps by the Indian Air Force Mirage 2000s.
16:04 China calls for 'restraint' after India's air strikes on terror targets in Pak
China on Tuesday urged India and Pakistan to "exercise restraint" and asked New Delhi to carry out its fight against terrorism through international cooperation, hours after Indian fighter jets struck Jaish-e-Mohammed's biggest camp in Pakistan in a pre-dawn attack.
When asked for China's response to India's air strikes on terrorist camps in Pakistan, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang told the media that "we have taken note of the relevant reports. I want to say that India and Pakistan are both important countries in South Asia. A sound relationship and cooperation between the two serves the interests of both the countries and peace and stability in South Asia," he said.
"We hope that both India and Pakistan can exercise restraint and do more to improve their bilateral relations," he said.
India bombed and destroyed Jaish-e-Mohammed's biggest training camp in Pakistan early Tuesday, killing a "very large number" of terrorists, trainers and senior commanders, officials said in New Delhi.
On India's assertion that it was a "non-military pre-emptive strikes" directed against training camps of the terrorist groups who are carrying out violent acts in India, Lu said, "as for India's claim on taking action against terrorism, well fighting terrorism is a global practice'. "It needs necessary international cooperation. India needs to create favourable condition internationally for the same," he said.
To another question, he said Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Muhammad Qureshi has spoken to his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi on the Pulwama terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir. "During the phone call, Wang listened carefully to Pakistan foreign minister's notification and proposals on the issues and reaffirmed his opinion that the two sides need to advance their cooperation in the counter terrorism for peace and stability in the region," the spokesman said.
Lu's comments came ahead of Russia, India and China (RIC) Foreign Ministers' meeting at the Chinese city of Wuzhen on Wednesday in which External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj is due to take part. The Pulwama terror attack and India's air strikes on the terrorists training camps were expected to figure in the her talks with Wang and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Levrov. -- PTI
15:55 India behaved responsibly: Head of foreign missions
The Dean of the Diplomatic Corps (represents foreign missions in India) Ambassador Hans Castellano on the air strike briefing by the MEA: "We want to congratulate MEA for quickly briefing us. Message was a direct one... It was a non-military preemptive strike. India wanted to target terrorists, not civilians. India behaved responsibly."
15:44 Be prepared for all eventualities: Imran tells Pak, Army
Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan asks armed forces and the people of Pakistan to remain "prepared for all eventualities".
On Imran Khan Official, the PM's Facebook page, the party posted, "A special meeting of the National Security Committee chaired by the Prime Minister was held at Prime Ministers office today. The meeting was attended by Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Defence, Finance, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, COAS, CNS, CAS and other civil & military officials.
"Forum strongly rejected Indian claim of targeting an alleged terrorist camp near Balakot and the claim of heavy casualties. Once again Indian government has resorted to a self serving, reckless and fictitious claim. This action has been done for domestic consumption being in election environment, putting regional peace and stability at grave risk.
"The claimed area of strike is open for the world to see the facts on ground. For this domestic and international media is being taken to the impact site
"Forum concluded that India has committed uncalled for aggression to which Pakistan shall respond at the time and place of its choosing.
"To take the nation on board, the government has decided to requisition joint session of the Parliament. PM has summoned special meeting of NCA on 27 Feb 2019.
"PM has directed that elements of national power including the Armed Forces and the people of Pakistan to remain prepared for all eventualities. He decided to engage with global leadership to expose irresponsible Indian policy in the region.
"PM appreciated timely and effective response of PAF to repulse Indian attempt without any loss of life or property.
Pakistani government statement advises all Pakistanis to "remain prepared for all eventualities"."
15:38 Parties hail IAF strike
Various political parties Tuesday hailed India's preemptive strikes on Jaish-e-Mohammed's terror camps in Pakistan, with the BJP asserting the country is safe under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's decisive leadership and Congress chief Rahul Gandhi lauding the Indian Air Force for its action.
Opposition leaders hailed the IAF for its valour. Lauding the pilots of the Indian Air Force Rahul Gandhi tweeted, "I salute the pilots of the IAF." The Congress also tweeted hailing the role of the Indian Air Force in keeping Indians safe with its consistent and determined effort.
Senior BJP leader Ram Madhav said, "Every Indian who had the pain and anguish of the martyrdom of our forces is greatly relieved and delighted this morning. Salute to the Air Force for a meticulous operation. Our forces are world class anyway. It is the political will of our PM and team that made all the difference."
BJP leader and Union minister Prakash Javdekar told reporters that people of India stood solidly behind their armed forces. "People have faith in Modi's leadership," he said.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee tweeted, "IAF also means India's Amazing Fighters. Jai Hind."
Lauding the Indian Air Force, Bahujan Samaj Party leader Mayawati said had the Modi government given a free hand to the armed forces earlier, incidents like the ones in Pulwama, Pathankot and Uri would have been avoided. "Salute and respect for the bravehearts of the Indian Air Force for their bold action against Jaish terrorists," she said. "The Prime Minister has now given a free hand to the army to take revenge for the martyrdom of soldiers in Pulwama. If this decision was taken earlier by the Modi government, the most sad and worrisome incidents like Pathankot, Uri and Pulwama would not have happened and neither would so many jawans have been martyred," she said in Hindi on Twitter.
Congress leader and Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh said Indian Air Force has done a great job. "The IAF strikes have sent the much needed signal to Pakistan and the terrorists it's harbouring - don't think you can get away with acts like the Pulwama attack. Bravo to the IAF men and my full support for the action," he said.
Delhi Chief Minister and AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal tweeted, "I salute the bravery of Indian Air Force pilots who have made us proud by striking terror targets in Pakistan."
National Conference leader Omar Abdullah said the strike signifies a "totally new ball game" as it was first time that air power was used during peace time to hit terrorist targets in the neighbouring country. "We've entered a whole new paradigm with the Balakote air strike. The post Uri strike was to avenge our losses, Balakote was a 'preemptive strike to prevent an imminent JeM attack'. Totally new ballgame," Abdullah tweeted.
Reacting to the developments, PDP president Mehbooba Mufti hoped that "objectives" of both New Delhi and Islamabad had been served. "Post pre-dawn strikes carried out by IAF, conflicting reports coming in. Official communique by FS claims that terror training camps were bombed while Pak denied this and said that the planes made a hasty retreat after being spotted. Hope objective of both sides has been served," she tweeted.
Punjab minister and Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu tweeted, "In the war of right and wrong, you cannot afford to be neutral, The war against terror outfits is spot on...Bravo Indian Air Force @IAF_MCC. Jai Hind."
Former Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal saluted the Indian Air Force fighter pilots for carrying out the "brave and effective air strikes deep inside Pakistan".
Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and his deputy Sachin Pilot also congratulated the Indian Air Force. "I salute your (IAF) bravery. The nation is proud of you. Jai Hind." Gehlot tweeted. PTI
14:59 Azhar's brother, a Kandahar hijacker targetted in Balakot strike
Ibrahim Azhar, the elder brother of Masood Azhar, who was also involved in the IC-814 hijacking in Kandahar. The brother-in-law Yusuf Azhar was also at the Balakot terror camp.
14:57 Jaish terrorist heading Kashmir ops targetted in air strike
Key Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorist targeted in today's air strikes include Mufti Azhar Khan Kashmiri, head of Kashmir operations. Not known whether he was eliminated or survived the air strike by the IAF.
14:48 Flag march
Flags of USA, UK and Israel painted on stairs at the Jaish-e-Mohammed facility destroyed by Indian Air Force jets in Balakot.
14:47
The exterior wall guarding the terror camp in Balakot. Pic: ANI
14:45 300 terrorists killed, 200 AK rifles, ammo destroyed in strike: Intel
First pictures of the Jaish-e-Mohammed terror camp in Balakot.
News agency ANI quoting intel sources tweets this picture of the JeM facility destroyed by Indian Ar Force strikes in Balakot, Pakistan. ANI reported that an ammunition dump was blown up in Balakot by the IAF Mirages had more than 200 AK rifles, uncountable rounds of hand grenades, explosives and detonators.
Intel sources said the strike was an intelligence based counter terror strike and not a military action for the sake of war. The entire suicide bombing training centre and terror set up in Balakot was demolished and over 300 terrorists were eliminated in the covert operation by the Indian Air Force. The intel sources also said flags of US, UK, Israel were painted on the stairs inside the centre.
India struck Jaish-e-Mohammed's biggest camp in Pakistan early Tuesday in a major "preemptive" action killing a large number of terrorists and trainers of the Pak-based terror group preparing to carry out suicide attacks in this country, a top official said. Giving details of the "intelligence led operation" at a news conference in New Delhi.
Image: The gates of the terror training camp in Balakot. Pic: ANI
14:21 Revenge not over till JeM chief Masood struck down: Raut
Senior Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut on Tuesday congratulated the Indian Air Force for strikes on terror launch pads in Pakistan but said the revenge for the Pulwama attack will not be complete till Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) chief Masood Azhar is "struck down".
India struck Jaish-e-Mohammed's(JeM) biggest camp in Pakistan early Tuesday in a major "preemptive" action killing a large number of terrorists and trainers of the Pak-based terror group preparing to carry out suicide attacks in this country.
In a tweet, Raut lauded the "bravery of Indian Air Force pilots who have made us proud by striking terror targets in Pakistan."
"However, until the satan JeM chief Masood Azhar is struck down, our revenge won't be complete," said the Rajya Sabha member, whose party is an ally of the BJP at the Centre and in Maharashtra.
Raut also re-tweeted a statement of National Conference leader Omar Abdullah in which the latter said, "If this is Balakote in KPK its a major incursion & a significant strike by IAF planes. However if its Balakote in Poonch sector, along the LoC its a largely symbolic strike because at this time of the year forward launch pads & militant camps are empty & non-functional." -- PTI
14:07 FS Vijay Gokhale briefs foreign diplomats
Foreign diplomats from the USA, UK, Russia, Australia, Indonesia, Turkey and six Asean nations being briefed by Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale on Indian air strike across LOC in Balakot.
14:03 Yusuf Azhar bombed in Balakot air strike was Kandahar hijacker
Indian Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale on Tuesday confirmed that India had "struck the biggest training camp of the Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) in Balakot", in the early hours of Tuesday.
He said the strike took place on a hilltop in a forest location far from civilian areas and that the JeM camp was run by Yusuf Azhar, who is believed to be the brother-in-law of Masood Azhar, the leader of JeM.
The Hindu reports that Yusuf Azhar alias Mohammad Salim was one of the men who hijacked the Indian Airline flight IC 814 to Kandahar in 1999. The JeM chief, Masood Azhar, was then released by India in exchange for the IC- 814 hijacked passengers.
In 2002, the government handed over a list of 20 fugitives to Islamabad which featured Yusuf Azhar's name. In 2000, the Interpol on the basis of a request by the Central of Investigation opened a red corner notice against the hijacker.
The notice (see picture alongside) says that his place of birth was in Karachi, Pakistan, and he was fluent in "Urdu and Hindi." He is wanted in India for "hijacking, murder and kidnapping."
14:03 India safe under Modi's strong and decisive leadership: Shah
After the air strike, time for politics.
BJP president Amit Shah Indian says the Air Force's strikes on terrorist camps in Pakistan underscores the will and resolve a new India, asserting it has shown that the country is safe under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's strong and decisive leadership.
"I congratulate and salute the bravery and valour of our armed forces. Today's action further demonstrates that India is safe and secure under the strong and decisive leadership of PM Narendra Modi," he said.
"Our New India will not spare any acts of terror and their perpetrators and patrons," Shah added.
India struck Jaish-e-Mohammed's (JeM) biggest camp in Pakistan early Tuesday in a major "preemptive" action killing a large number of terrorists and trainers of the Pakistan-based terror group preparing to carry out suicide attacks in this country. -- PTI
13:49 Want pressure on Pakistan be kept up: Brother of slain CRPF jawan
The brother of CRPF jawan Vijay Maurya, who lost his life in the Pulwama terror attack reacts to the air strikes: "We are very happy that this happened, but we want pressure on Pakistan be kept up so that no terror org like JeM dares to attack us again."
India Tuesday carried out pre-dawn air strikes on terror launch pads in Pakistan and destroyed terrorist targets. The strike comes amid heightened tension between India and Pakistan following the February 14 suicide attack by Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad terror group in Kashmir's Pulwama district that killed 40 CRPF soldiers.
Strikes involving several fighter jets of the IAF successfully destroyed camps belonging to Pakistan-based terror outfits in Balakot in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.
13:16 This will be benchmark for deterrence: Lone
People's Conference chairman Sajad Gani Lone Tuesday said the air strikes carried out by the Indian Air Force on terror camps in Pakistan will set a benchmark for deterrence and eventually end the cycle of violence. "Pacifist to the core I am. But the reality as it stares in our faces is that this retaliatory action will actually be the start of the unlearning process for Pakistan. This will set the benchmark for deterrence. And eventually crowd out cycle of violence," Lone said in a tweet.
He was reacting to the IAF air strikes in Pakistan in the wake of suicide car bombing attack on a CRPF convoy in Pulwama on 14 February that left 40 jawans dead. -- PTI
13:13 NSA Doval reviews border security with Army, Air Force chiefs
News updates at this hour: NSA Ajit Doval along with Indian Army Chief Bipin Rawat and IAF Chief BS Dhanoa is reviewing the security situation on the borders after Indian Air Force strikes at JeM terror camp in Balakot across LoC.
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj has called an all-party meeting at 5pm today.
13:11 Pakistan has the right to self defence: Pak FS
Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, in a hurriedly summoned security meeting after Indian Air Force's multiple aerial strikes at terror launch pads across the Line of Control (LoC), said that clouds of danger are hovering over Pakistan and that his country should not be worried over India's operation. "This was grave aggression by India against Pakistan. This is a violation of LoC and Pakistan has the right to retaliate and self defence," he said.
"I have already said that I don't want to mislead the public. Clouds of danger are hovering over us and we will have to remain alert," Samaa TV quoted Qureshi, as saying.
The Pakistan foreign minister called a high-level emergency meeting on Tuesday for consultation with former foreign secretaries and senior diplomats hours after IAF carried out air strikes across the LoC.
The operation, in which 12 Mirage 2000 jets took part, was carried around 3:30 am, IAF sources told ANI. The jets dropped 1000 Kg bombs on terror camps across the LoC, completely destroying them, sources added. Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) control rooms were also destroyed in the strikes.
12:57 Pak drone shot down near Gujarat border
A Pakistani unmanned aerial vehicle was on Tuesday shot down near the International Border in Kutch district of Gujarat, police sources said. Debris of the UAV was seen near Nanghatad village in Abdasa taluka of Kutch, they said.
On hearing a loud sound around 6 am, villagers went to the spot and found the debris of the UAV, the sources said. Asked if a Pakistani UAV had been shot down by the Indian armed forces, a police official, on condition of anonymity, said, "Such an incident has happened, we are investigating the matter."
The official, however, refused to elaborate further. Earlier, government sources said that in a pre-dawn strike, combat jets of Indian Air Force bombed terror camps at multiple locations across the Line of Control on the Pakistani side, 12 days after Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed terror group carried out the dastardly Pulwama attack in Kashmir.
They said the IAF's Mirage 2000 fighter jets pounded the terror camps in Balakot, Muzaffarabad and Chakoti in the well-planned strike destroying Jaish-e-Mohammed terror camps. Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman briefed Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the operation. -- PTI
12:54 PAF jets were about to shoot down Indian jets: Pak minister
Pakistan Minister for Maritime Affairs Ali Haider Zaidi tweets on the Indian air strike in Balakot: Firstly, the alleged terrorist camps in Pakistan are nothing but a figment of Modi's imagination. Secondly, the only thing the IAF dropped were fuel tanks, b/c they had to reduce the weight of their aircrafts & run back to their bases as PAF jets were about to shoot them down."
12:37 People living near international border, LoC need to be evacuated: Omar
Omar Abdullah has an important point to make: "Now we have an obligation to ensure that our people living near the international border & line of control are not caught in any Pakistani response. Local administrations need to be ready to evacuate & rehouse people to safe areas if situation escalates.
"I'm in touch with my party colleagues in frontier areas to lend all possible help & assistance, both to the administration as well as to any people caught up in any Pakistani misadventure."
In October 2016, a month after the surgical strike, Indian citizens in Bobiya and adjoining hamlets in Hiranagar sector in Kathua district spent sleepless nights due to the intensified shelling and firing by Pakistani Rangers on October-20 and 21.
Police armed with bullet proof vehicles criss crossed the shell-hit hamlets particularly Bobiya carrying loads of scared villagers. They were ferried to the camps setup by the district administration at government higher secondary school in Hiranagar and another school at Chhan Khatrian.
Read the full report here: 400 border residents evacuated after Pak pounds IB with mortar bombs
Image: A house destroyed by Pak bombing in October 2016 in the aftermath of the surgical strikes.
12:28 Indian jets hit Balakot in Imran Khan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
NDTV reports that after the press briefing, when Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale, was asked whether the IAF struck the Balakote in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa or Balakote in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir, Gokhale said it was in fact the Balakote in KP, which is a hotbed of terror activity.
Balakot is around 80 km inside Pakistan territory. Gokhale has mentioned just one target, Balakot, and not Chakoti or Muzaffarabad as news agencies mentioned earlier. Pakistan PM Imran Khan's Tehreek-e-Insaf is in power in the provinces of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has briefed both the President and Vice-President about the Indian Air Force strike at JeM terror camp in Balakote.
FM Sushma Swaraj to brief the opposition on the non-military preemptive strike in Pakistan's Balakote today. She leaves for China later in the day.
FS Vijay Gokhale said a large number of JeM terrorists, trainers, senior commanders and group of jehadis were eliminated in the operation. In the face of imminent danger, a preventive strike became "absolutely necessary", he said, adding that India is firmly committed towards taking all measures to fight terrorism.
NDTV says JeM chief Masood Azhar's nephew as well as over 300 terrorists were eliminated in the strike.
12:05 Omar says Balakote is in KPK
Omar Abdullah: So it is Balakote in KPK. "Thats a strike deep inside Pakistan & is hugely embarrassing for them. Regardless of what the other side may claim was or wasnt hit the planes crossed over, dropped their payload & flew back completely unscathed.
After Abbotabad the line they took was we are primed to look East to prevent any Indian attacks and thats how the Americans got through. So where were they looking now?"
11:50 Govt: Several killed in preemptive strike on Jaish camp
Foreign Secretary Vijay Keshav Gokhale briefs the media in Delhi on the air strike in Pakistan's Balakote this morning.
"On February 14th, a suicide terror attack led to the martyrdom of our jawans. The Jaish-e-Mohammed is responsible for the series of attacks including the Parliament attack in 2002 and the Pathankot attack.
"Credible intelligence was received that the Jaish-e-Mohammed was attempting another suicide terror attack in various parts of the country and fidayeen jihadis were being trained for this purpose.
"In an intelligence lead operation in the early hours today, India struck the biggest training camp of Jaish-e-Mohammed in Balakot. This non-military pre-emptive action was specifically targetted at the biggest JeM camp in Balakot and a very large number of JeM terrorists, trainers, senior commander and Jihadis were eliminated. The camp was controlled by Maulana Yusuf Azhar, the brother-in-law of Jaish-E-Mohammed head, Masood Azhar.
The camp is located at a hilltop in deep forests far away from civilian settlements. The selection of the target was done to avoid civilian casualties."
Since the strike has just taken place, the FS said more information is expected.
Image: Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale.
11:32 Place where the explosives were dropped is known as Jaba Top
BBC reporter Sameer Hashmi: The BBC's Pakistan bureau has learnt that the operation by the Indian Air force was carried out in Balakot area of KP in Pakistan. Balakot is a subdivision of Mansehra district. The place where the explosives were dropped is known as Jaba Top.
11:27 NIA conducts raids at separatist leader Yasin Malik's residence
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) conducted raids at the residence of JKLF Chief Yasin Malik in Srinagar on Tuesday morning. Adequate security is deployed outside the residence while NIA officials conducted the raid.
Yasin Malik was detained by the police late on Friday night.
Maliks detention comes ahead of a crucial hearing on Article 35A in Supreme Court which is likely to take place in between Feb 26 to Feb 28.
The article, incorporated into the Indian Constitution in 1954, grants special rights and privileges to the citizens of Jammu and Kashmir.
In the aftermath of Pulwama terror attack which claimed lives of 40 CRPF soldiers on February 14, Jammu and Kashmir government withdrew security cover of several separatists including Malik, Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Shabir Shah and Saleem Geelani. -- ANI
11:25 Indian aircraft intruded from Muzaffarabad sector: Pak
The Pakistan Government's twitter handle: "Indian aircrafts intruded from Muzaffarabad sector. Facing timely and effective response from Pakistan Air Force, released payload in haste while escaping, which fell near Balakot. No casualties or damage: DG ISPR Major General Asif Ghafoor.
Indian aircrafts intrusion across LOC in Muzaffarabad 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: DG ISPR Major General Asif Ghafoor."
Image: The image the Pak govt tweeted showing the extent of damage after the Pak air strike.
11:07 Srinagar scribe woken up to roaring fighter jets
Journalist Yusuf Jameel tweets: We're in Srinagar. All we could hear is: war planes roaring in the skies past 3 am. My wife woke me up to say "something is going on".
11:05 Western Air Command coordinated air strike on Pak
Updates at this hour:News agency ANI reports that Pakistani F16 jets were scrambled to retaliate against the IAF Mirage 2000s but turned back due to the size of the Indian formation. Western Air Command coordinated the operation. One of the targets destroyed by the IAF Mirage jets was in Pakistans Khyber Pakhtunkhwa area.
Meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security ends. Briefing by the Ministry of External Affairs at 11:30 am.
BJP spokesperson Ram Madhav tweets: Every Indian who had d pain n anguish of d martyrdom of our forces is greatly relieved and delighted this morning. Salute to d Air Force for a meticulous operation. Our forces r world class anyway. It is d political will of our PM n team that made all d difference.
And a word of caution from journalist Sadanand Dhume: "What we know: 1. The Pakistan army regularly lies through its teeth. (Remember Abbottabad.)
2. Much of the Indian media exaggerates wildly. (Remember nutty demonetization.)
3. Social media mobs in both countries view skepticism as a form of treason. #HappyFactChecking #Balakot
10:53 Media briefing at 11:30 am
Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale will hold a press conference at 11:30 am to brief the media on the air strikes.
10:46 This is Modi's India, will enter your homes, kill you: Union Minister
First confirmations from a union minister, but not from the defence ministry. MoS Agriculture Gajendra Singh Shekhawat tweets:
'Yeh Modi ka Hindustan hai, ghar mein ghusega aur marega bhi. This is Modi's India, (we will) enter your homes and kill you.
Air Force carried out aerial strike early morning today at terror camps across the LoC and Completely destroyed it.
Ek Ek katra khoon ka hisab hoga. Yeh toh ek shuruat hai. Yeh desh nahin jhukne doonga. This is payback for each drop of blood. This is just the beginning. This country will not bend.
#Balakot
#Surgicalstrike2"
10:34 Why the IAF used Mirage aircraft to for the strike
The IAF used the 12 Mirage aircraft for the airstrike in Pak. Here's Vishnu Som's piece on What Makes India's Fighter Jet Better. Do read
10:27 Which Balakot?
Journalist Nirupama Subramanian tweets: Wild speculation on social media that IAF crossed into Pakistan to hit Balakote in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. FYI, there is a Bala Kot across from Poonch. In fact it is a divided village on the LoC.
10:17 200-300 terrorists killed: India Today
Update: India is believed to have carried out air strikes inside Pakistan at 3:30 am Tuesday and targeted terror camps, sources said. India Today, quoting sources say, between 200-300 terrorists have been killed.
The strikes involving several fighter jets of the Indian Air Force successfully destroyed camps belonging to Pakistan-based terror outfits in Balakot in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, the sources told PTI. The extent of the damage inflicted on the ground is not immediately known.
In Islamabad, the Pakistan Army alleged that the Indian Air Force violated the Line of Control in the Muzafarabad sector. "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," Major General Asif Ghafoor, Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the media wing of the Pakistan Army, said in a tweet.
The development comes amid heightened tension between India and Pakistan after the February 14 suicide attack by Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad terror group that killed 40 CRPF soldiers in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district. -- PTI
Image: The location of Balakot where terror camps were destroyed.
10:17 Pak summons emergency meeting
Radio Pakistan says Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi has summoned an emergency meeting in Islamabad, Pakistan. The meeting will discuss the security situation.
10:11
Congress President tweets, "I salute the pilots of the IAF".
10:08 IAF on high alert along LoC, border areas
Indian Air Force has put on high alert all air defence systems along the international border and LoC to respond to any possible action by Pakistan Air Force.
Image: Meeting of Cabinet Committee on Security underway at 7, Lok Kalyan Marg.
10:03 Cabinet Committee on Security meets after India bombs Pak terror camps
If you've just joined us, this is the big news this morning.
The Indian Air Force has carried out an aerial strike at terror camps in Pakistan occupied Kashmir early this morning. "Twelve Mirage 2000 Indian fighter jets struck major terrorist camps across the Line of Control (LoC) and completely destroyed it by shelling 1000 Kg bombs", Indian Air Force sources told ANI.
"At 12.30 am, on February 26, a group of Mirage 2000 Indian Fighter jets struck major terrorist camps across the LoC and completely destroyed it," IAF sources said.
NSA Ajit Doval has briefed PM Narendra Modi even as the Cabinet Committe on Security is taking place now at the PM's residence.
The ministry of defence has yet to give a briefing on the issue, but reports say several terror launch pads have been destroyed in Balakot and Chakoti in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Reports say that Pakistan foreign minister Mahmood Quereshi has called for an emergency meeting.
09:51 Which Balakote was taken out, asks Omar
Omar Abdullah tweets: Unless we know which Balakote is being talked about by the Pakistani generals its pointless speculating about what we may have hit & what fallout the airstrike will have. If this is Balakote in KPK its a major incursion & a significant strike by IAF planes. However if its Balakote in Poonch sector, along the LoC its a largely symbolic strike because at this time of the year forward launch pads & militant camps are empty & non-functional.
09:49 Were Jaish camps destroyed in IAF air strikes empty?
@Jonah Blank This may be the substantive news of the reported #India-#Pakistan action. Any #JaishEMohammad camp destroyed by #IAF was almost certainly empty. And India is highly unlikely to have attacked a Pakistan military target. -BUT if Indian Air Force crossed the #LOC: Definite message
@NarangVipin Ok here we go. If true, first time IAF acknowledges crossing LoC for air strikes in almost half a century (1971 War). Did not do so during Kargil War one year after both India and Pakistan tested nuclear weapons. Seemingly did so today.
09:43
Training facility at #Balakot was developed in 2000-2001, overseen by Saifur Rehman Saifi, who pioneered suicide bombings in Pakistan, fought with the Taliban in Afghanistan, and targeted religious minorities. Al Rahmat Trust (another Jaish-e-Mohammed front) also registered there, says Author and strategic analyst Dhruva Jaishankar.
09:27
Former diplomat and strategic affairs expert KC Singh tweets
#Balakot #AirForce At Balakot Maharaja Ranjit Singhs army in 1831 eliminated Islamic force of Syed Ahmad, who like Talibans Mullah Omar had become Amir al-Mumunin. Pakistan ISPR tweeting pictures of large craters but no loss. Satellite pics will reveal actual damage & truth.
09:25 'This may be a mass-casualty event'
According to Strategic Sentinel, a nonpartisan international relations and national security analysis agency, there may a mass-casualty due to the air strike.
"We're getting reports that this may be a mass-casualty event. This seems to have been a surgical strike on a terrorist camp deep in Pakistan. Those camps have reportedly been destroyed," it tweets.
09:06 Mirage 2000 jets dropped 1,000kg bombs on terror camps: Reports
Twelve Mirage 2000 Indian fighter jets struck terrorist camps across the Line of Control, shelling 1000 Kg bombs, news agency ANI reported quoting Indian Air Force sources.
"Twelve Mirage 2000 Indian fighter jets struck major terrorist camps across the Line of Control and completely destroyed it by shelling 1000 Kg bombs", ANI tweeted.
"At 12.30 am, on February 26, a group of Mirage 2000 Indian Fighter jets struck major terrorist camps across the LoC and completely destroyed it,"
Defence analyst Nitin Gokhale said that multiple Mirage 2000s went upto Balakot to strike terror camps.
"Multiple IAF aircraft went right upto Balakot (KPK)as confirmed by@DGISPRand hit Jaish camp(s) can be confirmed now," Gokhale tweeted.
"Mirage 2000s struck Jaish camp(s). Completely flattened according to initial estimate," he said in another tweet.
08:34 Indian planes flew into our airspace, says Pak
Did Indian Air Force fighters fly across the LoC into Pakistan?
Major General Asif Ghafoor, the Director General of Inter Services Public Relations in Pakistan tweeted yesterday evening: '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.'
Image used for representational purpose only.
00:08 Ex-campaign staffer files sexual misconduct lawsuit against Trump
A former staffer on Donald Trumps presidential campaign has filed a federal lawsuit against the US president, claiming he kissed her without consent.
Alva Johnson, who was director of outreach and coalitions in Alabama in 2016, told the Washington Post that Trump grabbed her hand and leaned in to kiss her on the lips, as the then candidate got out of a vehicle at a rally in Tampa on August 24 2016.
According to the Post, Johnson said she turned her head and the unwanted kiss landed on the side of her mouth, which she called super-creepy and inappropriate.
The Post quoted her as saying: I immediately felt violated because I wasnt expecting it or wanting it. I can still see his lips coming straight for my face.
In a statement to the newspaper, White House press secretary Sarah Sanders dismissed Johnsons allegation as absurd on its face.
Sanders said: This never happened and is directly contradicted by multiple highly credible eyewitness accounts.
Johnson filed the lawsuit in Florida on Monday, seeking damages for emotional pain and suffering.
The Post said the lawsuit also alleges the campaign discriminated against Johnson, who is black, by paying her less than her white male counterparts.
A spokesman for the Trump campaign denied the claim.
Trump has been accused of sexual misconduct by numerous women, claims which he denies.
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