Balakot Strike: After IAF Hit JeM Camps, Pakistan Scrambled Jets From 8 Bases But Was 10 Minutes Late, Say Reports
The IAF has made a detailed review of its February 26 air strikes on Balakot and concluded that five of the six designated targets were hit.
New Delhi, April 25: After the Indian Air Force (IAF) conducted air strikes on terror camps in Balakot, Pakistan Air Force (PAF) scrambled fighter jets from as many as eight bases but they were 10 minutes late, said a report on the operation. The IAF has made a detailed review of its February 26 air strikes on Balakot and concluded that five of the six designated targets were hit during the operation.
The report on "the lessons learnt" from the air strikes said Pakistan scrambled its fighter jets only after IAF’s Mirage-2000s delivered the weapons package and turned back, Hindustan Times reported. The closest PAF aircraft were 150 km away from the IAF fighters. Pakistani fighter flew from its base in Mushaf in Sargodha, Rafiqui in Shorkot, Minhas in Kamra Attock, and Murid in Chakwal among others. Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman's Last Radio Message Before Ejecting Out of MiG-21 Was About Firing Missile at Pakistan's F-16 Jet.
While the review report doesn't mention the number of casualties, it said the IAF aircraft hit five of six designated mean point of impact (DMPI) on buildings in the Jaish-e-Mohammad terror training complex, Indian Express reported. The selection of target, means of operation and use of deception successfully made the operation "strategic surprise" for Pakistan.
Nearly 12 days after the February 14 Pulwama attack in which 40 CRPF personnel lost their lives, the IAF carried out bombing on terror group Jaish-e-Mohammed’s biggest training camp near Balakot deep inside Pakistan. Pakistan Lie Busted Again! Lockheed Martin Not Suing India For Claiming MiG-21 Shot Down F-16 Fighter Jet.
"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," Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhle said on February 26.
Indian armed forces on February 28 said the forces have enough evidence of successfully implementing what they wanted to in bombing a Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terror camp. "Whatever we planned, we have got it. It is for the government and top leadership to present evidence. It will be premature to talk about casualties," said Air Vice Marshal R.G.K. Kapoor in reply to a question as to how many terrorists were killed in Balakot and what was the damage caused.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Apr 25, 2019 10:53 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).