7 reasons why IAF operation is the biggest strike on Pakistan-backed terror

In a massive victory, the Indian Air Force conducted a strike on Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Toiba and Hizb-ul-Mujahideen terror camps across the Line of Control in Pakistan, killing, as per sources, at least 245 foot soldiers and terrorists. The pre-emptive attack through the 12 Mirage 2000 fighters which lasted for 21 minutes by the Forces comes just 12 days after the Pulwama terror attack. Sources have said that permanent structure of the Jaish has been destroyed.

7 REASONS WHY THIS IS THE BIGGEST STRIKE ON PAKISTAN-BACKED TERROR

REASON 1: THE SCALE OF TARGETS:

Within a span of 21 minutes by the Indian Air Force - three key locations of Jaish terror hubs in Pakistan - Balakot, Chakothi and Muzaffarabad were struck and as per source-based information led to the elimination of at least 325 terrorists.

POK being used for anti-India terror struck:

Muzaffarabad, which is the capital of Pakistan Occupied Kashmir has been struck giving a clear message to smoke out any anti-India terror outfit in the region.

MEA's Statement:

In an intelligence-led operation in the early hours of today, India struck the biggest training camp of JeM in Balakot between 3.45 am and 3.53 am. Balakot is 24 kilometre northwest of Muzaffarabad, the capital of Pakistan Occupied Kashmir.

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.

It was where Kashmiris were taken across were brainwashed and trained in JeM camps: It is well known and Indian agencies have long pursued the anti-India terror in Balakot as in 2018 the JeM Student wing Al Murabitun (AM) had organised a second annual congregation of Jihadi indoctrination called titled “Islamic and Training Convention” from July 28-30.

MUZAFFARABAD WAS WHERE LAKHVI WAS ARRESTED:

LeT terrorist Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi and the man responsible for 26/11 was also arrested in December 2008 from the outfit's camp in Muzaffarabad. Lakhvi was the planner of the 26/11 Mumbai attack in which over 170 people had died. The strike is a hit not only on the JeM but the entire terror industry that was thriving in Muzaffarabad.

 MUZAFFARABAD WAS WHERE HAFIZ SAEED USED TO CONDUCT ORIENTATION SESSIONS:

Muzaffarabad saw the ins and outs of Hafiz Saeed. In January 2017, it was reported that it was in Muzaffarabad 26/11 Mastermind Jamaat- ud -Dawa chief Hafiz Saeed had conducted an orientation session' for hundreds of 'activists'. So, for India to strike at the jugular in Muzaffarabad is extremely significant. 

MUZFFARABAD WAS WHERE MASOOD AZHAR HAD ADDRESSED RALLIES:

The Muzaffarabad target is a key target considering this is where JeM chief Masood Azhar had addressed a rally by phone July 2018 saying he had hundreds of terrorists ready to fight to the death. Today our Indian Air Force has put to death these very terrorists.

MUZAFFARABAD IS A MASSIVE LAUNCH PAD:

Muzaffarabad was an effective launch pad of anti-India Hizbul terror. Muzaffarabad is extremely significant for anti-India terror and many will remember this from May 2017 when just days after security forces killed 8 top Hizbul terrroists in the valley, a 27 member “terror trainee” picture from PoK had gone viral. The anti-India terrorists had described themselves as “latest batch of Hizbul Mujahideen trainees at a camp in Muzaffarabad in PoK”

BALAKOT HAS THE LARGEST TRAINING CAMP:

The oldest and perhaps largest terror camp of the JeM in Balakot located just 190 km from Pakistan capital Islamabad has been hit. This is undoubtedly the most significant statement of intent of India.

Balakot is around 190 km away from Pakistan's capital Islamabad and is infamous for having several terror training camps of Jaish-e-Mohammed. Balakot also is a venue for the JeM to hold its propaganda meetings and rallies. The area falls about 50 km from the LoC and 81 km away from Uri, Jammu and Kashmir.

BALAKOT IS JUST 50 KILOMETERS FROM ABBOTTABAD:

This strike attack Balakote is extremely significant because this town is just 50 kilometers away from Abbottabad, where Al-Qaeda chief Osama Bin Laden was killed 

THIS IS AN AREA WHERE ANTI-US TERROR WAS ALSO THERE:

When this elimination of JeM terror comes 10 days after the US State Department spokesperson said that “The US designated JeM as a foreign terrorist organization in December 2001, and we fully support actions to prevent them from conducting future attacks ”. On Tuesday we have struck not just JeM camps but also Hizbul and LeT camps. It is quite likely that there will be global support for India’s Air Strike Operation. 

REASON 2 - THE BROTHER IN LAW OF MASOOD AZHAR HAS BEEN TARGETED:

The terror nexus eliminated on Tuesday as per the briefing of the MEA includes not just the “terrorists, trainers, senior commanders” but also the targetted camp in Balakot includes the one “led by Maulana Yusuf Azhar alias Ustad Ghauri, brother in law of JeM Chief Masood Azhar.”

Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale said: "...Large number of JeM terrorists, trainers, senior commanders were eliminated in largest JeM camp in Balakot. The camp was led by Maulana Yusuf Azhar alias Ustad Ghauri, brother in law of JeM Chief Masood Azhar."

REASON 3 - HITTING THE PAK TRINITY OF TERROR:

Muzaffarabad known for joint meetings between Hizbul and JeM has been hit, the original Balakot hub of the JeM has been hit and their mode of entry into India in Chakothi has been hit, making this attack a smashing of Pakistan's Terror Trinity in 3 Strikes, a little after 3 am in the morning.

REASON 4 - THE SCALE OF BOMBS USED:

The Indian Air Force struck with a powerhouse of 1000 kg explosives at all the terror installation at the 3 targets - ensuring solid and inevitable damage.

REASON 5 - IT WAS PRE-EMPTIVE:

This was a front-footed pre-emptive strike after information came that Jaish-e-Mohammed was attempting another suicide terror attack in various parts of the country. It was vertical escalation at it's best.

Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale: "Credible intelligence was received that Jaish-e-Mohammed was attempting another suicide terror attack in various parts of the country and  fidayeen jihadis were being trained for this purpose. A pre-emptive strike became important. India struck the biggest camp of JeM in Balakot." 

REASON 6 - IT HAS LEFT PAKISTAN IN A TIZZY:

The Pakistan Foreign Minister Qureshi after briefing PM Imran Khan in Islamabad said, "First, they committed aggression against Pakistan today. It is a violation of the LoC. I consider it a violation of the LoC, and Pakistan his right to give a suitable response in self defence,” establishing that Pakistan has had to rely on falsehoods, face-saving exercises and worried meetings to take stock of how quick, how precise and how effective the Indian response was.

REASON 7 - THIS WAS A STRATEGIC, TEST RUN ATTACK:

Sources said that on February 15, Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa had presented the retaliatory airstrike option and there was a trial run on February 24 from Bhatinda and Agra, showing that this strike was caliberated, measured and meant to hit Pakistan and it terror exactly where it hurts.