New Delhi, February 27: The Indian Air Force on early Tuesday conducted a major air strike on a Jaish-e-Mohammed camp in Pakistan's Balakot, killing "a large number of terrorists, trainers, senior commanders and groups of jihadis". Before executing the air strike in Balakot, touted as surgical strike 2, the Modi government kept utmost secrecy around India's plan to avenge the killing of 40 CRPF personnel in Pulwama by Pakistan-based JeM.

Soon after the Pulwama terror attack, India’s external intelligence agency Research & Analysis Wing (RAW) was asked to look for targets in Pakistan. RAW shortlisted six targets including Balakot which was later finalised for the air strike. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on February 18 approved a strike on terror launch pads across the Line of Control. Only seven people were kept in the loop for the planned air strike. PM Modi 'Did Not Sleep Last Night', Monitored IAF Strikes on JeM Camp Realtime: Report.

PM Modi, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Indian Army Chief General Bipin Rawat, Air Chief Marshal of Indian Air Force Birender Singh Dhanoa, Chief of the Naval Staff Sunil Lamba, RAW Chief Anil Dhasmana and head of Intelligence Bureau Rajiv Jain knew about the planned air strike in Balakot. The air force was then waiting for the right time. In a bid to confuse Pakistan, the IAF started flying night sorties from various frontline bases starting February 22. Surgical Strike 2: Indian Army, Air Force, Navy on High Alert After IAF Strikes in Pakistan.

On February 25, the government received intelligence inputs suggesting the presence of a large number of JeM terrorists, around 300-350, at the Balakot camp, Hindustan Times reported. The same evening it was decided to go ahead with the airstrike immediately. PM Modi knew by late evening that an attack could happen in the next few hours, the report added.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Feb 27, 2019 11:44 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).