New Delhi claims to hit JeM Camps near Balakot

New Dehli claims to destroy JeM camps near Balakot, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in Pakistan.

An Intelligence based operation led by Indian Air Force in the early hours of 26th February 2019, Indian jets entered in Pakistani airspace.

Twelve Mirage 2000 fighter jets struck joint training camps of Jaish and LeT inside Pakistan and completely destroyed them by shelling 1,000 kg bombs. It took 19 minutes to complete the operation.

Balakot
Mirage 2000 jets hit Balakot 24 KM NW of Muzaffarabad at 3:45 am and the strike went on till 3:53 am. Hitting Balakot is a historic high for IAF because it not only crossed the LoC (Line of Actual Control), they crossed the entire Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) – Source ET

Note: Balakot hilltop which is in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, on the social media there has been a debate on whether IAF struck the camps in Balakot or Balakote which is in Indian Occupied Kashmir.

According to the local sources, it is confirmed that IAF jets entered within sovereign airspace of Pakistan, eye witnesses in Balakot Khyber Pakhtunkhwa said Jets were flying in early hours in the morning so it was not Balakote in IoK.

Indian Official Statement on the television claiming to strike JeM camps in Balakot, Pakistan.

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

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 for 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 PoJK 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 jidhadis 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 a 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.

DG ISPR, Major General Asif Ghafoor responded shortly after IAF violated the line of control.

** Balakot is in District Mansehra **

After two hours, DG ISPR confirmed the location that it was (Balakot) near Muzaffarabad sector. Balakot is in KP Province not in Azad Kashmir.

The debate on social media about Balakot or Balakote, There is no way Pakistan Army will enter in Indian Occupied Kashmir (IoK) “Balakote” just to take high resolution photographs.

Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said “India has conducted a violation of the Line Of Control and Pakistan reserve the rights to an appropriate response.”

It is confirmed that Indian Air Force did enter in sovereign airspace of Pakistan however the Indian claims to destroy JeM camps on Jaba Tops has yet to be confirmed as Pakistani Officials said no causualties and no damage reported.