IAF strike targeted Jaish terror camp operated by Yusuf Azhar: Foreign Secy
Tribune Web Desk
Chandigarh, February 26
Hours after the surgical air strikes by the Indian Air Force in Pakistan, the government on Tuesday announced that the targeted strike was aimed at Jaish-e-Mohammad training camp operated by Jaish operative Maulana Yusuf Azhar at Balakote.
struck biggest training camp of Jaish-e-Mohammad in Balakot; a very large number of terrorists, trainers, senior commanders and fidayeen jihadis were eliminated: Sh Vijay Gokhale, Foreign Secretary
— PIB India (@PIB_India)
Giving details about the air strikes, Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale, while addressing a press conference, said the preemptive strike was planned following intelligence inputs that the Jaish-e-Mohammad was planning major suicide attacks across the country.
“In the early hours of Tuesday, the Indians struck at the biggest training camp being operated in Balakote. A strike was launched in which a large number of terrorists, senior commanders of the terror outfits were eliminated,’’ said Gokhale.
Gokhale claimed that the terror camp was operated by senior Jaish-e-Mohammad terrorist Maulana Yusuf Azhar, brother-in-law of Maulana Masood Azhar.
Gokhale said the Government of India was firm and resolute to foil any terror attack and hence the preemptive strike. “It was a targeted strike in which our air force strikers ensured that no damage was done to civilian population and only terror camp was struck,” said Gokhale.
