Anticipating retaliation following the pre-dawn air strikes on Pakistan-based terror camps across the Line of Control, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval along with Indian Army Chief Bipin Rawat and Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa on Tuesday reviewed the security situation along the borders.
All the IAF bases have been put on high alert anticipating a reaction from Pakistan to the strikes carried out by the Indian fighter jets in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Balakot early on Tuesday.
Sources said that the IAF bases along the borders and inside are fully geared to deal with any eventuality. Air defence systems were activated to deal with any intruders along the International Border and the LoC.
The airborne radars were keeping a close vigil on the activities inside Pakistan, the sources added.
The Indian Navy and the Coast Guard also have been put on high alert.
According to reports, Israeli Phalcon Airborne Early Warning and Control Systems (AWACS) have been deployed to watch over Pakistani bases.
The AWACS are advanced radars mounted on an aircraft to give 360-degree coverage to detect incoming aircraft and missiles at long ranges.
A high alert has been sounded at air bases, airports and villages along the borders.
Gujarat was put on high alert on Tuesday following the strike.
Director General of Police Shivanand Jha issued the high alert across the border districts of Kutch, Banaskantha and Patan even as all District Superintendents of Police and Range Inspector Generals of Police were asked to remain stationed at their respective headquarters.
“Three border districts — Patan, Banaskantha and Kutch in particular — have been put on high alert, with the Indian Air Force on high alert at its air defence systems across the western border with Pakistan. Coastal districts have also been put on high alert,” Jha stated.
Gujarat shares a long international land and coastal border with Pakistan.
As a pre-emptive step, the state is seeking to prevent any infiltration attempts, especially through border districts of Kutch, Banaskantha and Patan.
Earlier in the day, Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale briefed foreign diplomats from the USA, UK, Russia, Australia, Indonesia, Turkey and six Asean nations on the air strike across LOC in Balakot
In a 21-minute offensive, 12 Mirage 2000 jets carried out the strike at around 3.30 am and dropped 1000 Kg bombs on terror camps across LOC, completely destroying it.
The IAF jets struck terror camps and launch pads across the LoC in Balakot at around 3.45 am, Muzaffarabad at around 3.48 am and Chakoti at around 3.58 am.
One of the targets destroyed by Indian fighter jets was reportedly in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa area. Strikes in the region were based on locations provided by on-ground intelligence sources.
According to reports, the IAF strike has led to 200-300 casualties on the Pakistani side.
The development came amid heightened tension between India and Pakistan following the 14 February suicide attack on a CRPF convoy in Jammu and Kashmir in which 44 jawans were killed.