Cutting across political lines, top leaders of the country praised the Indian Air Force (IAF) strike in Pakistan that left over 300 terrorists killed at three locations.
In a pre-dawn attack, which the government said was a pre-emptive strike on a major Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) camp, 12 IAF Mirage 2000 fighter jets dropped multiple 1000 kgs laser-guided bomb on a JeM target in Balakot.
Trinamool Congress chief and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee tweeted: “IAF also means India’s Amazing Fighters. Jai Hind.”
IAF also means India’s Amazing Fighters. Jai Hind
— Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) February 26, 2019
“Great job by the #IndianAirForce. The #IAFStrikes have sent the much needed signal to Pakistan and the terrorists it’s harbouring – don’t think you can get away with acts like the #PulwamaAttack. Bravo to the #IAF men and my full support for the action,” said Punjab CM Captain Amarinder Singh.
Great job by the #IndianAirForce. The #IAFStrikes have sent the much needed signal to Pakistan and the terrorists it’s harbouring – don’t think you can get away with acts like the #PulwamaAttack. Bravo to the #IAF men and my full support for the action.
— Capt.Amarinder Singh (@capt_amarinder) February 26, 2019
AAP chief and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal called the strike a “very brave act”.
“Soldiers entered Pakistan and targeted JeM camps. It was a very brave act. The entire country is feeling proud and I congratulate the forces. The entire country was with the government and the Prime Minister at this time. Strict action was needed,” he said.
Congress leader and Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath said that his party stands with every decision taken in the interest of the nation.
भारतीय वायु सेना के जाँबाज़ सैनिकों द्वारा
आतंकी ठिकानों पर की गई जबरदस्त कार्यवाही के लिए सैनिकों को बधाई, मैं और मेरी पार्टी राष्ट्रहित में उठाए जाने वाले हर कदम पर आपके साथ हैं।— Office Of Kamal Nath (@OfficeOfKNath) February 26, 2019
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu tweeted: “Hail the efforts of Indian Air Force.”
Hail the efforts of Indian Air Force.
— N Chandrababu Naidu (@ncbn) February 26, 2019
Congress leader and Rajasthan Chief Minster Ashok Gehlot tweeted: “Congratulations to #IndianAirForce pilots. I Salute your bravery. The Nation is proud of you. Jai Hind..🇮🇳 #AirStrike”
Congratulations to #IndianAirForce pilots. I Salute your bravery.
The Nation is proud of you.
Jai Hind..🇮🇳#AirStrike— Ashok Gehlot (@ashokgehlot51) February 26, 2019
Chief Minister of Odisha Naveen Patnaik tweeted: “Salute the #IndianAirForce for pre-dawn air strikes on terror camps in defence of our Nation. #JaiHind”
Salute the #IndianAirForce for pre-dawn air strikes on terror camps in defence of our Nation. #JaiHind
— Naveen Patnaik (@Naveen_Odisha) February 26, 2019
Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar said, “Salute to #indianairforce for giving befitting reply to the terrorists…”
Salute to #indianairforce for giving befitting reply to the terrorists operating from POK !#IndiaStrikesBack
— Sharad Pawar (@PawarSpeaks) February 26, 2019
DMK chief MK Stalin has tweeted: “Proud of our #IndianAirForce pilots for their exceptional act of valor!”
Proud of our #IndianAirForce pilots for their exceptional act of valor! 🙏 🇮🇳
— M.K.Stalin (@mkstalin) February 26, 2019
Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Tejashwi Yadav on Twitter said: “We salute bravery of our pilots and Air Force. We are blessed and proud of our forces. Jai Hind.”
We salute bravery of our pilots and Air Force. We are blessed and proud of our forces. Jai Hind
— Tejashwi Yadav (@yadavtejashwi) February 26, 2019
Actor-turned politician and Makkal Needhi Maiam chief Kamal Haasan says: “India is proud of its heroes. I salute their valour.”
Our 12 return safely home after wreaking havoc on terrorist camps in Pakistan. India is proud of its heroes. I salute their valour.
— Kamal Haasan (@ikamalhaasan) February 26, 2019
In the first ever air strike on Pakistan since 1971 Indo-Pak war, IAF fighter jets crossed the LoC to target terror camps and launchpads.
Reports say that three targets were picked – Chakothi, Muzaffarabad and Balakot. In a statement issued earlier
In a statement the MEA said that India hit 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. This facility at Balakot was headed by Maulana Yousuf Azhar (alias Ustad Ghouri), the brother-in-law of Masood Azhar, Chief of JeM,” Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale said.
He added that the “non-military preemptive action was specifically targeted at the JeM camp”.
“The selection of the target was also conditioned by our desire to avoid civilian casualties. The facility is located in thick forest on a hilltop far away from any civilian presence,” he said.