India used Mirage 2000 fighter jets, left, in the airstrike it conducted on Pakistani soil in February, Prime Minister Narendra Modi (right)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's comment that a cloud cover could have escaped detection of Indian fighter jets by enemy radars during the Balokot air strike has triggered a controversy but those in the know-how feel the need to maintain secrecy was the only reason why the plan could not be deferred.

"Yes, there were certain considerations about mission being compromised in terms of efficiency because of the weather but maintaining secrecy was very crucial and we had to go for it," said a source.

Sources added that it was the secrecy that allowed the element of surprise that was most important.

PM Narendra Modi had said in a TV interview that just before the aerial strike on a terror camp in Balokot, Pakistan was to take place, there was heavy cloud cover over the target prompting rescheduling of the plan.

He said that there was a view among the experts to change the date but the issue of secrecy was vital.

Modi said that he suggested that the cloud cover could be beneficial to Indian pilots as it would help in escaping the radars.

Experts also feel that while a cloud cover could not be the only reasoning for going ahead with the plan considering that one could beat the radars, they say secrecy was obviously the most important aspect.

Former fighter pilots don't feel that a cloud cover would prevent detection from radars but most experts feel that the bad weather might have prevented the Indian Air Force in getting clear imagery of the attack.

Air Marshal Vinod Bhatia (retd), who headed three air commands said, "The statement made by the Prime Minister was probably in the heat of the moment in the frenzy of elections and should not be taken seriously."

"Scientifically, radars are not affected by cloud cover but it's the weapon aiming that can be a problem as the target might not be clearly visible," he said.

"Battle damage assessment can also be a problem as cameras can get affected. But if synthetic aperture radars are being used pictures can be caught to see the damage done," he added.

India Today has learnt that it's the images captured by these synthetic aperture radars that were part of the mission that provide evidence of the terror hideout being hit and damaged. Sources, however, said that even these images are grainy and satellite imagery would have been clearer if there were no cloud cover.

The IAF carried out an air strike on a Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) camp on February 26 responding the suicide car attack in Pulwama that killed 40 Indian troops.

Air Marshal PS Ahluwalia (retd), who was the Air Officer Comminding- in- chief of the Western Command, also told India Today TV that a cloud cover could lead to a problem of doing a proper damage assessment.

A damage assessment is important so that nobody can question whether the mission successful.

"Fact is our mirages 2000s were successful and the weapons were delivered on target, strike went through beautifully but could not show clear pictures because of the cloud cover," he said.

"Radars are meant to see through clouds, performance does not get affected by clouds," he added.

There are experts who feel the frequency and technology being used in the radars is important.

"It's not true that radars won't work completely in rain or heavy cloud cover but it also doesn't mean it can't have an impact. It depends the characteristics of clouds and on the technology used in the radars, certain frequencies are more penetrating," said Ravi Gupta, a former scientist at the Defence and Research Development Organisation (DRDO).

Air Marshal SBP Sinha (retd) who headed the Central Air Command said all radars all radars can detect within clouds but there can be some degradation. But he also adds that weather plays an important role in execution of the mission.

"Lightening can be blinding and turbulence can sometimes cause disorientation," he said.