New Delhi, February 27: After the Indian Air Force (IAF) strikes on terrorist training camps across the Line of Control (LoC) in Pakistan, the government has sounded a 'highest alert' for next 72 hours in Delhi, Mumbai and five other cities anticipating a retaliation from Islamabad. Security has been increased at defence installations, Army camps and cantonment areas across north and west India. Besides, the Border Security Force (BSF) has been asked to intensify vigil along the line of control and the international border.

The 'highest alert' directives have been conveyed verbally and no written advisory was issued by the government. According to a TOI report, at least three of these cities are in Punjab, Rajasthan and Gujarat. In Punjab, which shares a 553km-long border with Pakistan, DCs and SSPs have been directed to ensure the safety of citizens. In Rajasthan, all movement of civilians within a 5km radius from the international border has been prohibited between 6 pm and 7 am till the first week of April. PM Modi 'Did Not Sleep Last Night', Monitored IAF Strikes on JeM Camp Realtime: Report.

In Gujarat, the Coast Guard has been directed to increase vigil along the coastlines to prevent infiltration from Pakistan-bassed terrorists. The state police were directed to work in coordination with the Army, BSF, Coast Guard, and allied agencies, the report added. The government is not anticipating direct retaliation from Pakistan. Intelligence agencies believe ISI-backed terror module in Jammu and Kashmir and some other states may attempt to carry out attacks.

Also, the threat is from sleeper cells and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) cadres active in Kashmir. Twelve days after a JeM suicide bomber killed 40 CRPF troopers, India on early Tuesday struck the terror outfit's biggest training camp at Balakot, killing "a very large number" of terrorists and their trainers. Foreign Secretary Vijay K. Gokhale told the media "in an intelligence-led operation in the early hours of Tuesday, IAF struck the biggest training camp of JeM in Balakot."

A large number of JeM terrorists, trainers, senior commanders and groups of jihadis being trained for fidayeen action were eliminated. "This facility at Balakot was headed by Maulana Yusuf Azhar (alias Ustad Ghouri), brother-in-law of (JeM leader) Masood Azhar," he said. Pakistan admitted the IAF planes struck Balakot, but claimed they returned when it scrambled its warplanes and that there were no losses on the ground. However, within hours of the strike, Pakistan threatened a "befitting response".

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Feb 27, 2019 08:29 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).