IAF Air Strike in Pakistan LIVE Updates: Pak summons India's envoy

Gokhale said the target was chosen to avoid civilian casualties. Gokhale said the camp, located in thick forests on a hill top away from civilian areas, was run by Maulana Yusuf Azhar, brother-in-law of JeM chief Maulana Masood Azhar. He said there was credible information that JeM was planning suicide attacks similar to Pulwama in other parts of the country and hence this strike was necessary. Follow LIVE UPDATES here Pakistan armed forces spokesperson Major General Asif Ghafoor claimed Indian aircraft 'intruded from Muzaffarabad sector' and 'dropped a payload' near Balakot 'facing timely and effective response from Pakistan Air Force'. Pakistan summoned India's acting High Commissioner and condemned 'violation of its territorial sovereignty' by Indian jets. Reacting to India's press briefing, Pakistan said it would respond to India's 'aggression' at a time and place of its choosing. Prime Minister Imran Khan has called for a joint session of Parliament on February 27. IAF strikes JeM camp in Balakot: Full text of India's statement Pakistan has claimed Indian aircraft crossed over into PoK and summoned India's acting High Commissioner. Read in Tamil, Malayalam and Bengali. Follow LIVE updates 19:09 (IST) 26 Feb 2019 Pakistan summons India's envoy Pakistan summons India's acting High Commissioner and condemns "violation of its territorial sovereignty" by Indian jets, PTI reported 18:42 (IST) 26 Feb 2019 EU urges 'maximum restraint' from India, Pakistan after air strike The EU has called on New Delhi and Islamabad to exercise "maximum restraint" after Indian Air Force destroyed a Jaish-e-Mohammad terror camp in Balakot. "We remain in contact with both countries and what we believe is essential is that all exercise maximum restraint and avoid further escalation of tensions," EU spokeswoman Maja Kocijancic told reporters, reported PTI. 16:43 (IST) 26 Feb 2019 Will take international media to area of strikes: Pak Foreign Minister Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said Pakistan will take international media to the area of strikes. Helicopters are being readied, right now weather is bad, will fly when weather permits, he said. 16:26 (IST) 26 Feb 2019 What does a non-military preemptive strike mean? A non military preemptive strike means that a military target has not been hit by the Indian Air Force that carried out the strikes in the early hours of Tuesday. Hitting a military target would be construed as an act of war. India, therefore, clarified that it was a non military strike. By calling it a preemptive action, it has taken the diplomatic pressure off itself that it acted to take revenge or for retribution. It has instead made it an act of self defence. MORE 16:08 (IST) 26 Feb 2019 Punjab border districts on high alert Punjab has put its border districts on high alert in the wake of the Indian Air Force's (IAF) strikes across the Line of Control, undertaken by India as a retaliatory measure in the aftermath of the Pulwama terror attack, Punjab Chief Minister's Office said. 15:35 (IST) 26 Feb 2019 Remain prepared for all eventualities: Pak PM Imran Khan tells country Prime Minister Imran Khan asked armed forces and the people of Pakistan to remain "prepared for all eventualities" following a "non-military preemptive" strike by the Indian Air Force targeted at a Jaish-e-Mohammed camp in Balakot. Pakistan's top security committee said India has "committed uncalled for aggression" and vowed to respond "at the time and place of its choosing" 15:19 (IST) 26 Feb 2019 Maharashtra Assembly passes resolution congratulating armed forces Maharashtra state legislature Assembly and council pass unanimous resolution congratulating armed forces for carrying out air strike on terror launch pads in Balakot. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis told the assembly, " The entire nation is proud of our armed forces. We salute our armed forces courage and action. They ensured the martyrdom of our jawans was not in vain. We have once again proved our might." 15:15 (IST) 26 Feb 2019 Jaish terrorists targeted in air strikes Key Jaish e Mohammed terrorists targeted in today's air strikes were Mufti Azhar Khan Kashmiri, head of Kashmir operations (pic 1) and Ibrahim Azhar (pic 2), the elder brother of Masood Azhar who was also involved in the IC-814 hijacking Key Jaish e Mohammed terrorists targeted in today&dhapos;s air strikes: Mufti Azhar Khan Kashmiri, head of Kashmir operations(pic 1) and Ibrahim Azhar(pic 2), the elder brother of Masood Azhar who was also involved in the IC-814 hijacking pic.twitter.com/IUv1njNygA — ANI (@ANI) February 26, 2019 14:58 (IST) 26 Feb 2019 Govt briefs foreign diplomats Foreign diplomats from the USA, UK, Russia, Australia,Indonesia, Turkey and six ASEAN nations were being briefed by Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale on Indian air strike across LOC Foreign Secretary and other Secretaries are briefing foreign envoys, including P5, during the course of the day. @IndianExpress — Shubhajit Roy (@ShubhajitRoy) February 26, 2019 14:40 (IST) 26 Feb 2019 Pakistan drone shot down near Gujarat border A Pakistani unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) 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. 14:30 (IST) 26 Feb 2019 China's reaction on India's Balakot strike In its first reaction to India confirming a non-military preemptive strike on a major Jaish-e-Mohammed terror camp in Balakot, Pakistan, China on Tuesday said that it hoped the two countries will maintain 'restraint' and 'do more to improve bilateral relations'. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lu Kang said: 'India and Pakistan are both important countries in South Asia. Sound relations and cooperation serve the interest of both countries for peace and stability in South Asia.' He added: 'We hope the two countries can keep restraint and do more to improve bilateral relations.' 14:13 (IST) 26 Feb 2019 Won't let India bow down: PM Modi in Rajasthan "I won't let India bow down. This is a promise that I make to you. I won't let the nation's name be erased. Rajasthan has given many brave soldiers to this nation. I bow to all you of you," Modi said 14:08 (IST) 26 Feb 2019 India in safe hands: Modi hours after strike Prime Minister Narendra Modi is addressing a gathering in Rajasthan. The rally comes hours after the strike. Reacting to the chants and slogans of the crowd, Modi says, "I understand your enthusiasm today. You are in a different mood." "I assure you that India is in safe hands," Modi said 13:15 (IST) 26 Feb 2019 Pakistan says it has 'right to retaliate, self-defence'; Imran Khan calls meeting "India committed an act of aggression. 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," Pakistan's foreign minister said. 12:52 (IST) 26 Feb 2019 India committed 'aggression': Pakistan foreign minister Meanwhile, in Islamabad, Foreign Minister Qureshi said India has violated the LoC and Pakistan has the right to respond. "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," he told reporters after an "emergency meeting" with high-level officials at the Foreign Office (FO) for consultations. وزیر خارجہ شاہ محمود قریشی کا پالیسی بیان@SMQureshiPTI pic.twitter.com/gB9keGku70 — PTV News (@PTVNewsOfficial) February 26, 2019 12:39 (IST) 26 Feb 2019 JeM terror camp was deep inside Pakistan: Sources Sources told The Indian Express that JeM terror camp is deep inside Pakistan in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. The MEA, however, only confirmed that the camp was in Balakot and it was on a hilltop far away from any civilian presence. 12:25 (IST) 26 Feb 2019 All-party meeting at 5 pm today External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj has called for an all-party meeting today at 5 pm. The government is likely to brief the Opposition about today's strikes on JeM terror camps in Balakot, Pakistan. 12:23 (IST) 26 Feb 2019 What is Mirage 2000? Indian Air Force Mirage 2000 fighters were used to destroy the terror camp, reports ANI. The jet is one among the IAF's strategic aircraft. During the Kargil War, India needed aircraft that could perform at the highest terrains and bad climate. While the Indian side had MiG-21s, MiG-23s and MiG-27s in its arsenal, they were not able to dislodge the Pakistani side. This is when Mirage 2000 was put to use. The jet was used to drop laser-guided bombs to destroy well-entrenched positions of the Pakistani forces During Operation Safed Sagar, two Mirage aircraft flew a total of 514 sorties and destroyed the command and control bunkers of Pakistan's Northern Light Infantry. Armed with Laser Guided Bombs, the jets repeatedly struck the heavily defended Tiger Hill. The impressive service of the Mirage 2000 in 1999 prompted the government to make another order for Mirage 2000. 11:46 (IST) 26 Feb 2019 Balakot camp was led by Azhar's brother-in-law Foreign Secretary Gokhale said the terror camp was led by Maulana Yusuf Azhar alias Ustad Ghauri, the brother in law of JeM Chief Masood Azhar. FS Gokhale also said the selection of the target was conditioned by India's desire to avoid civilian casualties. 11:43 (IST) 26 Feb 2019 Non-military preemptive strike: Foreign Secretary FS Gokahle today saidthat India has been repeatedly urging Pakistan to act on JeM to prevent jihadis from being trained and armed and that information related to the location of terror camps in Pakistan and PoK has been provided to Pakistan many times. "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," Gokhale said, adding that it was a "non-military preemptive strike." 11:39 (IST) 26 Feb 2019 A very large number of JeM trainers and fidayeen were killed: Vijay Gokhale, FS Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale today confirmed that India struck a training centre of the Jaish-e-Mohammed in the early hours of Tuesday and a large number of trainers as well as fidayeens were killed. The attack, Gokhale said, was a "non-military preemptive strike". 11:24 (IST) 26 Feb 2019 'Brilliant action, there is a limit to India's tolerance' Former IAF Chief AY Tipnis says IAF strike across LoC "conveys that though Pakistan uses terrorism as a tool against India, we are within our rights of International law to take such action." . 11:07 (IST) 26 Feb 2019 IAF has capability to fix and hit targets during day and night The capability to fix and hit the target, both during day and night and even in cloudy weather, was demonstrated by the IAF in Exercise Vayu Shakti earlier this month in Jaisalmer. The firepower demonstration had showcased capabilities which were way beyond those used during the Kargil War. IAF had used Mirage 2000 to fore laser guided bombs, fixed hastily when the Kargil conflict was on, to target Pakistani posts on the mountains of Kargil. 11:05 (IST) 26 Feb 2019 Mamata Banerjee tweets congratulating IAF West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has tweeted a new abbreviation for the IAF. IAF also means India's Amazing Fighters. Jai Hind — Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) February 26, 2019 11:02 (IST) 26 Feb 2019 Sensex opens 350 points down The benchmark BSE Sensex fell over 350 points in early trade Tuesday amid rising tension between India and Pakistan, weak Asian cues and selling pressure on banking, power, IT and power counters. The Sensex was trading 343.20 points, or 0.95 per cent, down at 35,870.18 after touching a low of 35,842.58. The gauge rallied 342 points in Monday's trade. - PTI 10:58 (IST) 26 Feb 2019 Air strikes by India first since 1971 war The reports of airstrikes in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir, although not officially confirmed, is the first time Indian Air Force has been used in Pakistan controlled air space after the 1971 war. During the 1999 Kargil conflict, the Vajpayee government had decided to restrict the use of IAF to own side of LoC. 10:57 (IST) 26 Feb 2019 Alert level is higher than normal levels: AOC Air Force Station Chandigarh The AOC Air Force Station, Chandigarh, Air Commodore S Srinivasan has said air defence measures are in place at the Chandigarh air base. "No fighter operation took place from here. All airfields of IAF were on enhanced alert after Pulwama," he said. "I have to be more alert because Chandigarh is surrounded by three states. So we have to be on a very high level of alert. This base is capable of undertaking all operational flights," Air Commodore Srinivasan added. 10:54 (IST) 26 Feb 2019 Press briefing by Foreign Secretary at 11.30 am Foreign Secretary Vijay Keshav Gokhale will brief the media at 11.30 am today. 10:22 (IST) 26 Feb 2019 Radio Pak reports Pak Foreign Minister has called for a meeting Radio Pakistan reports that Pakistan Finance Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi has summoned an emergency meeting today to "discuss situation after Indian Air Force's violation of LOC. The meeting will discuss the security situation. It will be attended by former secretaries and senior ambassadors," Radio Pakistan reported. 10:17 (IST) 26 Feb 2019 Pakistan: Intrusion within AJ&K was 3-4 miles Pakistan's Major General Asif Ghafoor tweets again: "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." 09:57 (IST) 26 Feb 2019 Delhi CM Kejriwal salutes armed forces Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal tweeted congratulating the armed forces for striking terror camps in PoK. I salute the bravery of Indian Air Force pilots who have made us proud by striking terror targets in Pakistan — Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) February 26, 2019 " id="lbcontentbody"> 09:56 (IST) 26 Feb 2019 NSA briefs PM Modi, CCS likely to meet today National Security Advisor Ajit Doval has met Prime Minister Narendra Modi at 7, Lok Kalyan Marg. A meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security is underway. 09:55 (IST) 26 Feb 2019 IAF puts defence systems on high alert News agency ANI reports that the 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. 09:52 (IST) 26 Feb 2019 Omar Abdullah tweets, asks which Balakote Former Jammu and Kashmir CM Omar Abdullah tweeted asking for clarity on the location where the IAF strikes took place. "If this is Balakote in KPK it's a major incursion & a significant strike by IAF planes. However if it's Balakote in Poonch sector, along the LoC it's a largely symbolic strike because at this time of the year forward launch pads & militant camps are empty & non-functional," he tweeted. Unless we know which Balakote is being talked about by the Pakistani generals it&dhapos;s pointless speculating about what we may have hit & what fallout the airstrike will have. — Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) February 26, 2019 09:48 (IST) 26 Feb 2019 First official confirmation comes from Union Minister Shekhawat The first official confirmation comes from Union Minister Gajendra Shekhawat. He tweeted a picture of the Mirage releasing a missile in the air. It's not clear if the photo is of this morning's attack or not. ?? ???? ?? ?????????? ??, ?? ??? ?????? ?? ?? ?????? ??,Air Force carried out aerial strike early morning today at terror camps across the LoC and Completely destroyed it?? ?? ????? ???? ?? ????? ???? !?? ?? ?? ?????? ?? .. ?? ??? ???? ????? ?????...#Balakot #Surgicalstrike2 pic.twitter.com/fqYJgWxuqX — Gajendra Singh Shekhawat (@gssjodhpur) February 26, 2019 09:43 (IST) 26 Feb 2019 Congress president Rahul Gandhi tweets Congress president Rahul Gandhi has tweeted this morning, saluting the Armed Forces. ???? I salute the pilots of the IAF. ???? — Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) February 26, 2019 09:31 (IST) 26 Feb 2019 ANI reports: JeM terror launch pads destroyed News agency ANI reports quoting sources that"Balakot, Chakothi and Muzaffarabad terror launch pads across the LOC completely destroyed in IAF air strikes. JeM control rooms also destroyed." 09:14 (IST) 26 Feb 2019 Pak Army spokesperson tweets again Meanwhile, Pakistan's Armed Forces spokesperson Major General Asif Ghafoor put out another tweet. Payload of hastily escaping Indian aircrafts fell in open. pic.twitter.com/8drYtNGMsm — Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor (@OfficialDGISPR) February 26, 2019 09:00 (IST) 26 Feb 2019 IAF sources to ANI: 12 Mirage 2000 jets attacked terror camps in PoK News agency ANI reports quoting sources in the Indian Air Force that at 0330 hours on February 26, a group of Mirage 2000 Indian Fighter jets struck a major terrorist camp across the LoC and completely destroyed it. The IAF source further told ANI that 1000-kg bombs were dropped on terror camps across the LoC, adding that 12 Mirage 2000 jets took part in the operation. The Indian Express could not independently verify this. 08:27 (IST) 26 Feb 2019 Pulwama probe: Attack car traced to Anantnag, its owner missing, suspected to be Jaish, says NIA On February 25, announcing a major breakthrough in the Pulwama terror attack in which 40 CRPF personnel were killed, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) said that it had identified the owner of the vehicle that was used by the attacker who has been claimed by Jaish-e-Mohammad to be its recruit Adil Ahmed Dar. The NIA said Monday that the Maruti Eeco car was last sold on February 4, just 10 days before the attack, to one Sajjad Bhat, a resident of Bijbehara in Anantnag, who is now absconding and is suspected to have joined Jaish. MORE Union Minister Shekhawat was the first to tweet on the attacks from the government's side. Opposition leaders Congress president Rahul Gandhi and AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal tweeted saluting the armed forces. On February 14, 40 CRPF jawans were killed in the worst-ever terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir. The attack took place after a suicide bomber rammed an explosive-laden Maruti Eeco into a bus carrying CRPF personnel from Jammu to Srinagar. Terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed had claimed responsibility for the attack. The NIA is currently investigating the attack. Reacting strongly to the Pulwama attack, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said those who committed the heinous act will pay 'a heavy price'. 'Those who did the heinous act will have to pay a heavy price. Those who supported it will definitely be punishment. To all my colleagues, in ruling and Opposition, it's a sensitive time. We need to speak in one voice because this battle is for us to win. 'We will face this together. We will not let those forces who want to destroy us be successful. We will not leave the dreams of those who died for us yesterday unfulfilled. If our neighbour thinks it can destabilise India, then it is making a big mistake,' PM Modi had said. On February 25, announcing a major breakthrough in the Pulwama terror attack in which 40 CRPF personnel were killed, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) said that it had identified the owner of the vehicle that was used by the attacker who has been claimed by Jaish-e-Mohammed to be its recruit Adil Ahmed Dar. The NIA said Monday that the Maruti Eeco car was last sold on February 4, just 10 days before the attack, to one Sajjad Bhat, a resident of Bijbehara in Anantnag, who is now absconding and is suspected to have joined Jaish. Interestingly, on Monday evening, PTI reported quoting Pakistan Army spokesperson Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor as saying that Army chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa met Air chief Marshal Mujahid Anwar Khan and the two chiefs deliberated on operational environment including threat and response. "Both chiefs expressed satisfaction on readiness, coordination and synergy. Pakistan Armed Forces are fully prepared for a befitting response to any Indian aggression or misadventure," he added, PTI reported. India's earlier surgical strike following Uri attack On the intervening night of September 28-29, 2016, Indian Army carried out surgical strikes against terror launch pads in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), just eleven days after the Uri attack which had claimed the lives of 18 BSF soldiers. The army launched the attack targeting Pakistani terrorists positioned across the Line of Control. The then DGMO, Lt General Ranbir Singh, had announced on September 29 that India had conducted surgical strikes on terror pads along the LoC using ground forces and inflicted 'significant casualties'. On October 7, 2016, The Indian Express had reported graphic accounts provided by eyewitnesses living across the LoC of the surgical strikes, describing how bodies of those killed before dawn on September 29 were loaded onto trucks for secret burials. The eyewitnesses also described brief but intense fire engagements that destroyed makeshift buildings that housed terrorists, before they left for the last stage of their journeys across the LoC. The surgical strikes were the first time the political leadership owned trans-LoC operations and marked a huge shift in the sanctity of the LoC as a de-facto international boundary. During the 1999 Kargil War, when the LoC had been respected as a not-to-be-crossed red line by the previous NDA government even though the Pakistan army had openly breached it. function catchException() {try{ twitterJSDidLoad(); }catch(e){}} function getAndroidVersion(ua) {ua = (ua || navigator.userAgent).toLowerCase(); var match = ua.match(/android\\s([0-9\\.]*)/);return match ? match[1] : false;}; var versions='4.2.2'; var versionArray=versions.split(',');var currentAndroidVersion=getAndroidVersion();if(versionArray.indexOf(currentAndroidVersion)!=-1){var blocks = document.getElementsByTagName('blockquote'); for(var i = 0; i < blocks.length; i++){blocks[i].innerHTML = '';}}Dailyhunthttps://anotepad.com/notes/8y6iw6

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