The Indian Air Force conducted airstrikes at the biggest terror camp of Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) in Balakot at Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in Pakistan in the wee hours today. Briefing media in New Delhi, Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale said, credible information was received that JeM was attempting other suicide terror attacks in the country and terrorists were being trained for
that purpose. Saying that it became inevitable to carryout a pre-emptive strike, the Foreign Secretary asserted that in this operation, a very large number of terrorists, trainers and senior commanders of the group were eliminated.

He said, the airstrikes were a non-military pre-emptive action and they were conducted in a thick forest area to avoid civilian casualties. The camp was led by Maulana Yusuf Azhar alias Ustad Ghauri, brother in law of JeM Chief Masood Azhar.

Mr Gokhale said, JeM is responsible for series of terror attacks in India. He said, information about location of training camps was provided to Pakistan but no concrete action was taken.

The Foreign Secretary said, India remains firmly committed towards taking all measures to fight terrorism. He said, India expects Pakistan to dismantle all terror camps, including those of JeM.

In view of the airstrikes, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj has convened an all party meeting in New Delhi this evening.
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Courtesy