In a major breakthrough, the Indian Air Force conducted a deadly strike on Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Toiba and Hizb-ul-Mujahideen terror camps across the Line of Control in the early hours of Tuesday.
It has been reported that the airstrike happened at 3.30 am and several mirage aircraft dropped 1,000 kg bombs on terrorist camps across the Line of Control. In the process, at least 325 soldiers and terrorists were eliminated.
Here are the 7 reasons why this is the biggest strike on Pakistan-backed terror
REASON 1: Magnitude of Targets:
Within 21 minutes, the Indian Air Force destroyed three key locations of Jaish terror hubs in Pakistan namely Balakot, Chakothi and Muzaffarabad.
Muzaffarabad was the area where Hafiz Saeed used to organise orientation sessions. In January 2017, it was reported that Muzaffarabad 26/11 Mastermind Jamaat- ud -Dawa chief Hafiz Saeed conducted an orientation session’ for over hundreds of ‘activists’. So, for India to “strike at the area” in Muzaffarabad is extremely important.
In an intelligence-led operation in the wee hours of Tuesday, India took revenge on Pakistan for the Pulwama attack in Balakot between 3.45 am and 3.53 am. Balakot is 24 km northwest of Muzaffarabad, which is the capital of Pakistan occupied Kashmir.
In this massive operation, a wide spectrum of JeM terrorists including trainers, senior commanders and groups of jihadis who were being trained for fidayeen action were neutralised. This provision at Balakot was led by Maulana Yousuf Azhar (alias Ustad Ghouri), the brother-in-law of Masood Azhar, Chief of JeM. It was the place where certain Kashmiris were taken across were brainwashed and then they are asked to go through training in JeM camps.
The Muzaffarabad target is a primary target given that this is where JeM chief Masood Azhar had addressed a rally by phone July 2018 saying he had hundreds of terrorists geared up to fight to the death. But today, our Indian Air Force significantly launched air strike only to put these terrorists to death. Casualties are expected to be around 300.
In case you didn’t know, “BALAKOT” has the largest training camp. In fact, it is the oldest and perhaps largest terror camp of the JeM in Balakot situated just 190 km from Islamabad (Pakistan capital)
Balakot is around 190 km away from Islamabad, known for having several terror training camps of Jaish-e-Mohammed. It is also is a venue for the JeM to hold its top-secret meetings and rallies. It is situated just about 50 km from the Line of Control (LoC) and is also 81 km away from Uri, Jammu and Kashmir.
This strike attack Balakote is “significant” because this town is just 50 kilometres away from Abbottabad, where Al-Qaeda chief Osama Bin Laden was neutralised.
REASON 2 – Brother in law of Masood Azhar has been aimed:
The terror groups neutralised on Tuesday according to the briefing of the MEA includes not only the “terrorists, trainers, senior commanders” but also “the targetted camp” in Balakot with the one “led by Maulana Yusuf Azhar alias Ustad Ghauri, brother in law of JeM Chief Masood Azhar.”
Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale said: “…A large number of JeM terrorists, trainers, senior commanders were eliminated in largest JeM camp in Balakot. The camp was led by Maulana Yusuf Azhar alias Ustad Ghauri, brother in law of JeM Chief Masood Azhar.”
REASON 3 – Striking the Pakistan Trinity after 3 am in the morning:
“Muzaffarabad” which is well known for joint meetings between Hizbul and JeM ran through a rampage while the original Balakot hub of the JeM has also been destroyed and their mode of access to India in Chakothi has also been doomed, which goes to show that this devastatingly impressive attack carried out by the Indian Air Force was well and truly awesome!
REASON 4 – Explosive Used:
The Indian Air Force used a massive 1000 kg explosives at all the terror camps at the 3 targets just to make sure that magnitude of destruction is very high.
REASON 5 – Pre-emptive Strike:
This was an aggressive pre-emptive strike by IAF after a tip-off confirmed that Jaish-e-Mohammed was planning for yet another suicide terror attack in several parts of the country.
Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale said: “Credible intelligence was received that Jaish-e-Mohammed was attempting another suicide terror attack in various parts of the country and fidayeen jihadis were being trained for this purpose. A pre-emptive strike became important. India struck the biggest camp of JeM in Balakot.”
REASON 6 – India’s effective response left Pakistan in utter chaos
Pakistan Foreign Minister Qureshi after talking about PM Imran Khan in Islamabad said: “First, they committed aggression against Pakistan today. It is a violation of the LoC. I consider it a violation of the LoC, and Pakistan his right to give a suitable response in self-defence.”
REASON 7 – Strategic planning and Trial run attack
According to the sources on February 15, Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa “presented the retaliatory airstrike option” and there was an experimental attack on February 24 from Bhatinda and Agra, showing that this deadly strike was carefully accessed, measured and meant to strike Pakistan terror camps with utmost perfection.
(With inputs from The Republic)
