New Delhi: Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale on Tuesday officially confirmed that Indian Air Force’s Balakot completely destroyed the “biggest terror camp of Jaish-e-Mohammad” and that this action was completely “non-military pre-emptive”.
Gokhale also informed the vulnerable terror outfit was planning a few more attacks like the Pulwama attack which killed 40 CRPF officers February 14. Jaish-e-Mohammad had taken responsibility for the deadly attack.
The Balakot raid reportedly killed over about 300 terrorists and completely destroyed the terror camps established in its nearby areas in Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK). Twelve Mirage 2000 fighter jets dropped 1,000 kg bombs on the camps at about 3.30am. Also, no civilian casualties were reported.
Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale also said, “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 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.”
He added that the Government of India will take any necessary steps to “fight the menace of terrorism.”
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj is set to head an all-party meet at 5 pm regarding the air strike.
Also Read: Pulwama Response: IAF Strikes In PoK, Destroys Multiple Terror Camps
Ms Kalinga