Surgical Strike LIVE updates: The naval base at Ambala air base and Mumbai naval base have been put on high alert. Meanwhile, Australian foreign affairs minister Marise Payne said, 'Pakistan must take urgent and meaningful action against terrorist groups in its territory, including Jaish-e-Mohammed which has claimed responsibility for the 14 February bombing, and Lashkar-e-Taiba.'

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Pakistan on Tuesday alleged that Indian Air Force aircraft crossed the Line of Control and were forced to turn back after Pakistan Air Force scrambled into action. Pakistan Army spokesperson, Major General Asif Ghafoor tweeted Tuesday morning alleging that more than one Indian Air Force jet 'intruded' into Pakistani territory from Muzaffarabad sector. Ghafoor said, "Facing timely and effective response from Pakistan Air Force, (IAF jets) released payload in haste while escaping which fell near Balakot. No casualties or damage."

Indian Air Force sources told ANI that a group of Mirage 2000 jets struck a major terrorist camp in Balakot sector in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir. The sources said that the targetted militant training camp was 'completely destroyed' and the pilots safely came back into the Indian territory.

Indian Air Force sources further said that bombs carrying at least a 1000 kilogramme of explosives were dropped on a major terror installation of Jaish-e-Mohammad terrorist group, across the Line of Control, ANI reported.

At least 12 Mirage 2000 jets took part in the operation that dropped 1000 kilogramme bombs on terror camps across Line of Control, completely destroying it, ANI reported. The operation was launched at 3.56 am on Tuesday morning.

Pakistan Army spokesperson, Major General Asif Ghafoor claimed that the Indian Air Force attack within the Pakistan Occupied Kashmir failed to cause any damage. He claimed that the Indian jets had to 'hastily' drop the payload in an 'open area'.

CNN-News18 reported quoting government sources that the Balakot Jaish camp has been completely flattened in the limited strikes conducted by Indian Air Force. The sources said that initial assessment of damages suggest at least 200 to 300 casualties.

If the strikes have indeed been conducted in Pakistan's Balakot sector, then the strike was much within the Pakistani territory, reports said. Balakot is reportedly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan.

Senior journalist Megha Prasad claimed that IAF has destroyed Alpha 3 Control rooms and launch pads of Jaish-e-Muhammad in at least three locations.

Jaish chief Masood Azhar wrote the Fath-ul Jawwad, his disquisition on the Quranic basis of jihad, during a retreat at Balakot. He sought inspiration from the memory of Islamic revivalists Syed Ahmed Barelvi and Shah Ismail, who were killed in 1831 after waging an unsuccessful insurgency against the Sikh empire

Balakote is one of the Jaish-e-Muhammad’s oldest and best-known training camps, which has found mention in many past criminal cases in India and abroad. There was limited physical infrastructure at the base—witnesses have spoken of a main tin-roof shed, a small mosque and several earth houses.

This may account for the absence of official confirmation from the Defence Ministry as India has no wish to push Pakistan into a corner from where it has to hit back on Jaish-e-Mohammad’s behalf. Reuters is reporting that the Defence Ministry is saying it has no knowledge of violations of Pakistani airspace.

Balakote training camp is in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, which means India has struck inside Pakistani territory, and not just occupied areas of Jammu and Kashmir.

Moments after the news of a possible Indian Air Force strike within Pakistani territory spread, people startled tweeting using the #SurgicalStrike2, comparing these strikes to the one carried out by Indian Army post the Uri attack.

Reports have pointed out that there is a village called Balakot in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir as well apart from the Balakote sector in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province in Pakistan. Since there has been no official word on the attacks yet, it is still unclear whether the strikes took place within occupied territory or in proper Pakistani territory.

Balakot village near LoC in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir as well; no official confirmation yet

"If this is Balakote in KPK it’s a major incursion & a significant strike by IAF planes. However if it’s Balakote in Poonch sector, along the LoC it’s a largely symbolic strike because at this time of the year forward launch pads & militant camps are empty & non-functional," he said.

Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah said that since it was not yet clear whether India bombed the Balakote in Pakistani territory or within the occupied territory, it was unwise to speculate. He said if the territory bombed was indeed in Pakistan occupied Kashmir, then the strike was merely symbolic.

Pointless to speculate on impact of strike till it is clear which Balakot did IAF hit, says Omar Abdullah

India Today reported that the Pakistan Foreign Minister has called an emergency meeting with Prime Minister Imran Khan. Meanwhile, in India the prime minister is in huddle with his own Cabinet colleagues, including Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, and Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj.

Pakistan Army spokesperson, Major General Asif Ghafoor tweeted Tuesday stating that the Indian Air Force jets struck the Balakot village in Muzaffarpur sector in the Pakistan occupied territory and not in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province.

Spelled as Balakote, Balakot and Bala Kot in various report, the exact location of the territory hit will only be clear when the Indian authorities take an official stand.

Meanwhile, the Pakistan Army said that the 'intrusion' across LoC was in Muzaffarabad Sector within occupied Kashmir, which was just three to four miles within the Actual Line of Control. However, journalists have pointed out that the "other" Bala Kote, in Poonch, is nowhere near Muzaffarabad.

Confusion over which Balakot has been hit by Indian strikes prevails. Earlier reports claimed that it was in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir, but subsequently media started claiming that the Balakote in KPK province.

Reports further suggested that the terrorist groups had emptied their launchpads but not the training camps.

Defence sources said that the IAF strike lasted not more than 21 minutes, right from take off till the return into Indian territory. The strike took place in Balakote, 24 kilometre northwest of Muzaffarabad at around 3: 45-3:53 am. The joint training camps of JeM, LeT and Hizbul Mujahideen were hit.

- Chakoti, was he last to be hit between 3.58 am and 4.04 am

- Muzaffarabad, capital of Pakistan Occupied Kashmir, was hit between 3.48 am and 3.55 am.

- Balakot, which is 24 kilometre northwest of Muzaffarabad, capital of Pakistan Occupied Kashmir, was struck between 3.45 am and 3.53 am. However, there is still confusion over whether this place falls in PoK or proper Pakistani territory.

Here are the three locations in Pakistan bombed by Indian Air Force today:

The US army combat Journal says pre-dawn window offers maximum surprise even for boots on the ground. The Soviet Military review endorses this. Bikram

It was well planned military strategy to go in at 03.30 am which is the psychological low point of alertness. The enemy is asleep, the scramble by the PAF that much slower and through history pre-dawn attacks have been of the essence. Japan attacked the US Midway Atoll around 4 am. In the Battle of the Bulge most major assaults were timed for pre-dawn. The British Harriers attacked the Falklands before the sun came up. The US 1st Special Forces were hit by a reinforced Viet Cong battalion which launched a full-scale, pre-dawn attack on the camp. The Americans were outnumbered 3 to 1.

Meanwhile, Indian news agency ANI claimed that the one of the targets destroyed by IAF Mirage jets was in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. A clearer picture should emerge after the Foreign Secretary's meeting.

BBC said that the Indian Air Force has confirmed to it that they crossed the Line of Control and not the International Border. Firstpost could not independently verify this report, but if indeed this is true then this means that the IAF did not hit the Balakot in KPK province.

Two Indian Prime Ministers have faces similar choices. In 2001, after the attack on Parliament House, Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee was briefed on the benefits and risks of air strikes. He eventually ordered a large-scale mobilisation of troops to signal willingness to go to war—but did not authorise air strikes, fearing they could spark of a tit-for-tat cycle of attacks, without securing any strategic ends. Army chief General S Padmanabhan and Air Force chief Air Chief AY Tipnis both had their reservations, for different reasons—but Vajpayee’s mobilisation eventually secured a deescalation in Kashmir, albeit at huge cost. After 26/11, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh considered air strikes; at one stage, IAF jets were on the runways with engines running. But there were issues with intelligence for targeting data and, unsure of impacts, India held back

Pakistan has two options now. It’s first, strategically sensible option, is to do nothing: in the midst of IMF negotiations for a bailout, and with a ballooning budget deficit, it just cannot afford a crisis. But there are those in Pakistan’s army who think the country’s long-term security requires a response. In that case, a big response—threatening escalation to a nuclear level—makes the most sense, since it would involve the Great Powers fastest. Even if India makes no public comment, moreover, public pressure will mount as video and accounts emerge from Balakote—it is after all a mid-size town, and the camp is quite close by.

Reports have said that a Pakistani drone has been shot down at around 6.30 am in Gujarat's Kutch region. More details on this are awaited.

Pakistan drone shot down near Kutch in Gujarat at around 6.30 am, claim reports

Considering the world class SiLLaCS (Siemens Low Level air Control System) air defence system operating out of Sargodha it is technically not possible for an IAF attack sortie to go into Pakistan without PAF being alerted. But because there was no immediate counter-response the interesting and obvious take is that the Pakistan military has decided to de-escalate by not reacting despite repeated warnings that it would.

Pakistan's ruling party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf lashed out at Indian media for 'war mongering'. In a tweet from its official handle, the party said that the coverage of the event shows a "disturbing bloodlust and deteriorating mindset at a time when Pakistan is on an upward trajectory"

“I think there is going to be a war now,” Amir Shah, 25, a student, told to his friend, who along with other people were watching the news on TV inside a shop. “It has already started and if not a war after what India did Pakistan is not going to stay silent. I have a feeling they will also do something.”

As the news of Indian Air Forces strike inside Pakistan Occupied Kashmir started trickling in, residents in border towns of Kashmir started wondering if there might be a war in coming days between India and Pakistan. At Sheeri in north Kashmir’s Baramulla town, on the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad road a group of people were glued to a TV in the main market- keeping an eye on the developments.

Indian Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale said that India targeted known terror camps — following specific intel inputs — located in deep forests away from the civilian population were targetted. Gokhale termed the strikes a non-military preemptive action and refused to take any further questions.

"In an intelligence lead operation in the early hours today, India struck the biggest training camp of Jaish-e-Mohammed in Balakot. In this operation, a very large number of JeM terrorists, trainers, senior commander and Jihadis were eliminated. Credible information was received that JeM was attempting other attacks in the country. A pre-emptive strike became important. India struck the biggest camp of JeM in Balakot," Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale.

Jaish publications show that three recruitment programmes were opened this month in Bahawalpur alone: from 16 February to 2 March, 22 February to 8 March, and from 23 February to 9 March. The message relayed to the young recruits remains the same: the survival of Islam rests on armed jihad.

Feeding the fidayeen factory in Kashmir is a much larger army: the infrastructure which organises the hundreds of young south Punjab (in Pakistan) men who head to the Jaish’s military camps each year. In its magazine, al-Qalam, the Jaish calls on Punjabis to donate their religious tithe for jihadists. It publishes accounts of mosque-level meetings across the region, asking for volunteers for jihad.

Jaish publications show that three recruitment programmes were opened this month in Bahawalpur alone: from 16 February to 2 March, 22 February to 8 March, and from 23 February to 9 March. The message relayed to the young recruits remains the same: the survival of Islam rests on armed jihad.

Feeding the fidayeen factory in Kashmir is a much larger army: the infrastructure which organises the hundreds of young south Punjab (in Pakistan) men who head to the Jaish’s military camps each year. In its magazine, al-Qalam, the Jaish calls on Punjabis to donate their religious tithe for jihadists. It publishes accounts of mosque-level meetings across the region, asking for volunteers for jihad.

Several bombs hit Jaba Top, between Mansehra and Balakote. At least, 100 to 200 were present at camp at the time of the strike who were attending Jaish-e-Mohammad functions. Area was cordoned off by the Pakistan Army when police got there.

According to defence sources, IAF fighter jets targeted Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammad and and Hizbul Mujahideen camps near Muzaffarabad. LeT has a huge set up also known as religious training institute in the area. Sources also claimed that another target was Balakot in Mansehra of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Sources said JeM has a terror camp in Mansehra known as 'Bukad Bud' and HM camp is also located nearby.

Gokhale further said that the camp was led by Maulana Yusuf Azhar alias Ustad Ghauri, brother in law of JeM Chief Masood Azhar. "In an intelligence-led operation in the early hours today, India struck the biggest training camp of Jaish-e-Mohammed in Balakot. In this operation, a very large number of JeM terrorists, trainers, senior commander and Jihadis were eliminated. Credible information was received that JeM was attempting other attacks in the country. A pre-emptive strike became important. India struck the biggest camp of JeM in Balakot."

The Indian retaliation comes 12 days after the Pakistan-based terror group, Jaish-e-Mohammed carried out the Pulwama attack in Kashmir, government sources said.

Large number of Jaish-e-Mohammad terrorists, trainers and senior commanders were eliminated in largest Jaish camp in Balakot, foreign secretary Vijay Gokhale told the press on Tuesday. The Ministry of External Affairs briefing was held after reports claimed that combat jets of the Indian Air Force bombed terror camps at multiple locations across the Line of Control on the Pakistani side in a pre-dawn strike.

The report comes in the wake of foreign secretary Vijay Gokhale's press briefing confirming a non-military intelligence-led pre-emptive attack in Balakot aimed at Jaish-e-Mohammad training camps.

Dawn reported that Balakot police chief Saghir Hussain Shah told The Associated Press that he had sent teams to the area — which he described as a mostly deserted wooded area — who found "no casualties, no damages on the ground because of the dropping of the bombs."

The article further notes: "In such a tense atmosphere, India should take up Pakistan’s offer to “give peace a chance” as the alternatives to constructive dialogue are confrontation and yet more hostility."

An editorial in Dawn slammed the Indian media and said "particularly jarring are the armchair warriors of the media — especially on the Indian side — baying for the blood of the ‘other’." The editorial, titled War rhetoric & reality said, "There has also been a reprehensible effort to exploit the attack and work up anti-Kashmiri and anti-Muslim sentiments in India, predominantly by the storm troopers of Hindutva. But perhaps what is most worrisome is that ministers and members of the establishment on both sides are talking casually about war."

NSA Ajit Doval along with Indian Army Chief Bipin Rawat and IAF Chief BS Dhanoa is reviewing the security situation on the borders after Indian Air Force strikes at Jaish-e-Mohammad terror camp in Balakot across Line of Control, reports have said.

Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj has invited Opposition leaders for a briefing on strike on Jaish terror camps. The meeting is scheduled at 5 pm at Jawahar Bhawan.

"All pilots are safe. I think it needed to be done. I personally had no doubt in my mind after Pulwama attack that some strong action will be taken by the government," Hooda further said.

"My compliment goes to the government for taking this action and also to the Air Force for the way they have carried out this strike (in Balakot) in an absolutely professional manner," Lt Gen DS Hooda (Retired), the Northern Army Commander said.

With Pakistan military spokesperson Major General Asif Ghafoor tweeting that the IAF jets had dropped the payload "in haste" near Balakot, confusion ensued about whether the IAF strike took place just across the Line of Control in the town located in Mansehra district of Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, or in a similarly named town Bala Kote near the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch sector.

Unconfirmed reports on Twitter claimed that inbound civil traffic is being monitored at the Indira Gandhi International Airport. The tweet also claimed that heavy military movement has been spotted around the airport following the IAF strikes in Balakot.

1. Lashkar-e-Taiba's religious training institute near Muzaffarabad 2. Jaish-e-Mohammad terror camp "Bukad Bud" near Mansehra 3. Hizbul Mujahideen camp on hill near Mangla 4. Two camps near Shinkari and Tarbela 5. A huge camp housing more than 200 terror recruits on Mansehra Ridge 6. Terror camps at Safaidi, Mansehra 7. Hizbul Mujahideen camp at Mansehra 8. Let and Hizbul Mujahideen camp at Chakoti, Hattian Bala

India had shared input on eight major terror training camps in Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir and Pakistan with US intelligence besides two dozen small camps. These are as following:

India had shared with US intel input on 8 major terror camps in PoK and Pakistan

Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan has convened an "important meeting" to review the emerging situation in the wake of airstrikes by Indian Air Force in Balakot. Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi had summoned an emergency meeting at the Foreign Office in Islamabad to discuss the security situation with former secretaries and senior ambassadors earlier on Tuesday, Pakistan media reported .

"Our country, our sovereignty, our integrity are being threatened," Asif reportedly said , asking that a joint sitting of Parliament be convened on Tuesday. "It is the need of the hour that we show solidarity with the Army." The PML-N leader said it is "not the time for political point-scoring", and called for all political parties to "suspend their differences for some time. Asif also said that the message should be sent that all lawmakers are "one in the matter of Kashmir".

Former Pakistan defence minister Khawaja Asif, in a fiery address on the floor of the National Assembly on Tuesday, called for all parties to "put on a united front" in the wake of IAF's "non-military" pre-emptive strike in Pakistan's Balakot area.

The article further noted "Indian military's brutal tactics" in Kashmir and wrote, "Moreover, the Indian military’s brutal tactics in occupied Kashmir have fired up Kashmiri resistance, with the region’s disillusioned youth convinced that only armed struggle against India will help them secure their rights. But it is also true that Pakistan can take steps to send positive signals across the border. Among these can be speeding up the legal process to bring the perpetrators of the Mumbai attack to justice."

An editorial in Dawn , put the onus on war-mongering on "Hindutva ideologues" and said, "In India’s case, Hindutva ideologues have infiltrated all levels of the state machinery; this has resulted in an increasingly rigid attitude towards Pakistan."

In a series of tweets, BJP chief Amit Shah said that the airstrikes conducted by the IAF on Tuesday "further demonstrates that India is safe and secure under the strong and decisive leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi."

"Today, from Churu's land, I assure the countrymen that the country is in safe hands," roared a confident Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday. "Today your mood is different," said Modi before raising Bharat Mata ki Jai slogans.

"This was an intelligence based counter terror strike not a military action for sake of war. Have demolished entire terror set up in the suicide bombing training centre in Balakot, and over 300 terrorists were eliminated in the covert operation by Indian Air Force," government sources said.

Pakistani president has reacted to the Indian Air Force strike in Pakistan. In a tweet, Arif Alvi said that it would be a mistake to underestimate Pakistan's capability to defend itself.

According to government sources, they had shared details of Balakot terror training camp head Maulana Yousuf Azhar with Pakistan in 2006. Yousuf alias Salim alias Ghouri, brother in law of JeM chief Masood Azhar, was the brain behind hijacking of IC-814.

According to top government sources, the Indian Air Force independently struck five terror camps at Kangar in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

China has reacted on the Indian Air Force's strike on Jaish-e-Mohammed's biggest training camp in Pakistan. Beijing came out with a short statement asking both nations to exercise restraint, PTI reported.

Intelligence sources have revealed that flags of USA, UK and Israel were painted on staircases inside the Jaish-e-Mohammed facility destroyed by Indian Air Force jets in Balakot. The visuals were tweeted by ANI.

In his first response after the Indian air strikes, Imran Khan accused India of lying and said that he will take the international media to the site of attack to expose New Delhi. Imran will also give a detailed statement in press conference at 3.30 pm.

Imran Khan to take media to attack site to expose 'India's lies'; will address media at 3.30 pm

A Pakistani statement further said, "This action has been done for domestic consumption being in election environment,putting regional peace and stability at grave risk.The claimed area of strike is open for the world to see the facts on ground.For this domestic&international media is being taken to the impact site."

Imran Khan chaired a special meeting of the National Security Committee at his office today. The forum "strongly rejected Indian claim of targeting an alleged terrorist camp near Balakot and the claim of heavy casualties. Once again Indian government has resorted to a self serving, reckless and fictitious claim."

Pakistan's ruling party Pakistan Tehreef-e-Insaf tweeted that Pakistan will retaliate to the "Indian aggression" at a time and place of its choosing.

Pakistan will respond to 'uncalled for Indian agression' at time and place of its choosing

Dean of Diplomatic Corps, Hans Castellanos said, "We are satisfied that Indian government has had such a rapid response in informing Heads of Missions. The information is that they did not affect any civilian or any Pakistan military installation, that it was a direct attack due to credible intelligence received."

The air strike on terror camps in Pakistan is a positive for the markets as it illustrates a "decisiveness" in foreign policy and increases the chances of Narendra Modi to retain power after the forthcoming polls, say analysts. - PTI

The air strike on terror camps in Pakistan is a positive for the markets as it illustrates a "decisiveness" in foreign policy and increases the chances of Narendra Modi to retain power after the forthcoming polls, say analysts.

India received intelligence that JeM had shifted many in-training terrorists and hardcore operatives, along with their trainers, to the Balakot camp, which has facilities for 500 to 700 people, and even has a swimming pool along with cooks and cleaners. PTI

Hundreds of Fidayeen and their trainers were shifted from Pakistan Occupied Kashmir to a five-star, resort style camp in a hilltop forest in Balakot after the Pulwama attack, providing Indian forces with "a sitting duck target" when they carried out an air strike early Tuesday, killing up to 350 terrorists, sources said.

Fighter and other aircraft took off from several air bases in Western and Central commands at about the same time, leaving Pakistani defence officials confused as to where they were heading, the sources said. A small group of aircraft broke away from the swarm and headed to Balakot where "the sleeping terrorists were sitting ducks for the Indian bombing," said one source.

Everyone at the camp was sleeping and Pakistani defence establishment had no clue that the attack was coming so deep into their country because they had expected a surgical strike on camps in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir near the Line of Control, said the sources who are close to the government.

AAP supremo and Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal had earlier planned to sit on indefinite hunger strike from 1 March to garner support for his demand of full statehood for Delhi.

At a press conference, Pakistani foreign affairs minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said, "A parliamentary committee has been constituted in which the foreign minister, defense Minister, finance minister will be included so that all parties should be taken into confidence."

"After the Pulwama attack, we had said in a briefing that the Modi government will carry out some misadventure ahead of (Lok Sabha) elections. Bashing Pakistan is the easiest way to win over the extreme Right," he said.

At the briefing, Shah Mahmood Qureshi said, "Pakistan Army, Air Force will never allow enemy forces to venture that deep into territory. We were prepared...Pakistan Air Force was airborne and we were ready for all eventualities. It was a multi-dimensional intrusion attempt. They saw our alert air force and turned back."

Pakistani forces will never allow forces to venture that deep into territory, says Shah Mahmood Qureshi

“We saw trees fallen down and one house damaged and four craters where the bombs had fallen,” said Mohammad Ajmal, a 25-year-old who visited the site.

Pakistani villagers in the area where Indian jets struck what officials in New Delhi said was a militant training camp said they heard four loud bangs in the early hours of Tuesday but reported only one person wounded by bomb shards.

Quoting government sources, ANI reported that a total of six bombs were dropped on Pakistan based terrorist camps by the Indian Air Force Mirage 2000s.

"Australia urges both sides to exercise restraint, avoid any action which would endanger peace and security in the region and engage in dialogue to ensure that these issues are resolved peacefully"

"Pakistan must do everything possible to implement its own proscription of Jaish-e-Mohammed. It can no longer allow extremist groups the legal and physical space to operate from its territory. These steps would make a substantial contribution to easing tensions and resolving the underlying causes of conflict.

Australian foreign affairs minister Marise Payne said, "The Australian government is concerned about relations between India and Pakistan following the horrific terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir on 14 February, which Australia has condemned... Pakistan must take urgent and meaningful action against terrorist groups in its territory, including Jaish-e-Mohammed which has claimed responsibility for the 14 February bombing, and Lashkar-e-Taiba.

"Punjab has put its border districts on high alert in the wake of the Indian Air Force's (IAF) strikes across the Line of Control, undertaken by India as a retaliatory measure in the aftermath of the Pulwama terror attack," a statement said by Chief Minister Amarinder Singh's office.

To rebuke Indian "propaganda", Pakistan foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said that the Imran Khan government will take international media to the area of strikes. "Helicopters are being readied. Right now, the weather is bad. (The helicopters) will fly when weather permits,' he was quoted as saying by ANI.

Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh held a high-level meeting in Chandigarh with state minister Manpreet Badal and senior officials in the wake of the strikes on JeM terror camps.

Jaitley briefs Kovind, Venkaiah Naidu over airstrikes Finance Minister Arun Jaitley gave a detailed briefing of operation to President Ram Nath Kovind and Vice-President M Venkaiah Naidu. CNN-News18 reported that it was discussed at the meeting that Tuesday's strike was not a revenge attack over Pulwama but rather a strike to protect India's sovereignity.

Speaking to ANI, BJP general-secretary Ram Madhav said, "After Pulwama attack, the nation was mourning for 12 days and on the 13th day our valiant air force paid the real tribute to the martyred soldiers by destroying terror training camps deep inside Pakistan territory."

NDTV reported that the Ambala air base and Mumbai naval base have been put on high alert. Meanwhile, the forces are maintaining a strict vigil at Wagah Border.

ANI reported that the Pakistan Army violated ceasefire along the Line of Control in Nowshera, and Akhnoor sectors in Jammu and Kashmir. According to CNN-News18, Pakistan has violated truce five times on Tuesday.

CNN-News18 reported that Narendra Modi will chair a meeting with intelligence chiefs and Air chief Marshal BS Dhanoa. NSA Ajit Doval will update Modi on the latest developments.

In a statement posted on Facebook, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) said, "The entire nation was agitated and angry in the wake of terror attack by “Jaish-e-Mohammed” in Pulwama. Today, the Indian Air Force demolished ‘Jaish-e-Mohammed’s” Pakistan-based ‘base-camps’ by precision air strikes. We congratulate the Government of India and the Indian Air Force for exactly translating the feelings and anger of millions of Indians. These air strikes were carried out without causing any harm and damage to the Pakistani Army and civilians as well, which is in tune with the Bharatiya culture."

After the all-party meet, which was chaired by Sushma Swaraj, Senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad said, "We have appreciated the efforts by the forces, they always have our support to end terrorism. Another good thing is that it was a clean operation, which specifically targeted terrorists and terror camps,"

Jaitley briefs Kovind, Venkaiah Naidu over airstrikes Finance Minister Arun Jaitley gave a detailed briefing of operation to President Ram Nath Kovind and Vice-President M Venkaiah Naidu. CNN-News18 reported that it was discussed at the meeting that Tuesday's strike was not a revenge attack over Pulwama but rather a strike to protect India's sovereignity.

Ram Madhav, BJP: Country is in safe hands, it's will power of PM that has led to the action today. We had political leadership in PM Modi which decided this time to act. We acted in a responsible manner, protected India's interest & ensured we didn't violate international norms. pic.twitter.com/uJks1ZALDv

Speaking to ANI, BJP general-secretary Ram Madhav said, "After Pulwama attack, the nation was mourning for 12 days and on the 13th day our valiant air force paid the real tribute to the martyred soldiers by destroying terror training camps deep inside Pakistan territory."

Following the airstrikes, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is visiting Delhi's ISKCON temple, said, "God's powers are always with us to save the Earth from the enemies of mankind. This is the message we are trying to send to the evil spirits."

NDTV reported that the Ambala air base and Mumbai naval base have been put on high alert. Meanwhile, the forces are maintaining a strict vigil at Wagah Border.

ANI reported that the Pakistan Army violated ceasefire along the Line of Control in Nowshera, and Akhnoor sectors in Jammu and Kashmir. According to CNN-News18, Pakistan has violated truce five times on Tuesday.

"After the Pulwama attack, the countrymen demanded that such action be taken that the enemy would think ten times to repeat such incident. Today, the air force has eliminated the air strikes on the terrorists hidden in the PoK," he said.

Speaking in Ghazipur, BJP chief Amit Shah said, "Prime Minister Narendra Modi had promised a safe and secure India in 2014. First, there was a surgical strike to answer the terrorism in Uri, and now, an aerial strike against terrorism."

CNN-News18 reported that Narendra Modi will chair a meeting with intelligence chiefs and Air chief Marshal BS Dhanoa. NSA Ajit Doval will update Modi on the latest developments.

In a statement posted on Facebook, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) said, "The entire nation was agitated and angry in the wake of terror attack by “Jaish-e-Mohammed” in Pulwama. Today, the Indian Air Force demolished ‘Jaish-e-Mohammed’s” Pakistan-based ‘base-camps’ by precision air strikes. We congratulate the Government of India and the Indian Air Force for exactly translating the feelings and anger of millions of Indians. These air strikes were carried out without causing any harm and damage to the Pakistani Army and civilians as well, which is in tune with the Bharatiya culture."

After the all-party meet, which was chaired by Sushma Swaraj, Senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad said, "We have appreciated the efforts by the forces, they always have our support to end terrorism. Another good thing is that it was a clean operation, which specifically targeted terrorists and terror camps,"

Surgical Strike Latest updates: The naval base at Ambala air base and Mumbai naval base have been put on high alert. Meanwhile, Australian foreign affairs minister Marise Payne said, "Pakistan must take urgent and meaningful action against terrorist groups in its territory, including Jaish-e-Mohammed which has claimed responsibility for the 14 February bombing, and Lashkar-e-Taiba."

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj is chairing an all-party meeting at the Ministry of External Affairs. Earlier, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley gave a detailed briefing of operation to President Ram Nath Kovind and Vice-President M Venkaiah Naidu.

Quoting government sources, ANI reported that a total of six bombs were dropped on Pakistan based terrorist camps by the Indian Air Force Mirage 2000s.

Pakistani villagers in the area where Indian jets struck what officials in New Delhi said was a militant training camp said they heard four loud bangs in the early hours of Tuesday but reported only one person wounded by bomb shards.

In his first response after the Indian air strikes, Imran Khan said that Pakistan will strongly respond to the Indian aggression at a time and place of its choosing. He also asked Pakistani citizens to stay prepared for any eventuality.

Dean of Diplomatic Corps, Hans Castellanos said, "We are satisfied that Indian government has had such a rapid response in informing Heads of Missions. The information is that they did not affect any civilian or any Pakistan military installation, that it was a direct attack due to credible intelligence received."

In his first response after the Indian air strikes, Imran Khan accused India of lying and said that he will take the international media to the site of attack to expose New Delhi. Imran will also give a detailed statement in press conference at 3.30 pm.

"We had been telling the world that India is likely to do something like this (airstrike in Pakistan). Today they have done it," Pakistan foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said. "I could see that the clouds of danger were hovering over Pakistan. Pakistan is live and strong. We are a responsible nation and will respond in a responsible and tactical manner. Pakistan knows how to safeguard its interests."

Addressing a public rally at Rajasthan's Churu and in a first response after the IAF airstrikes in Pakistan's Balakot area, Prime Minister Narendra Modi started his speech to the slogans of Bharat Mata ki Jai. "India is in safe hands, bhaiyyon aur beheno," said Modi to a massive gathering where the crowd chanted "Narendra Modi" in unison.

In a series of tweets, BJP chief Amit Shah said that the airstrikes conducted by the IAF on Tuesday "further demonstrates that India is safe and secure under the strong and decisive leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi."

Stunned by the Indian Air Force airstrikes on Tuesday, Pakistan said it will give an "appropriate reply" to the Indian action, which it described as 'grave aggression". Soon after Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale issued official statement after the airstrikes, Pakistan foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said Prime Minister Imran Khan has called a meeting to discuss the issue.

Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan has convened an "important meeting" to review the emerging situation in the wake of airstrikes by Indian Air Force in Balakot. Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi had summoned an emergency meeting at the Foreign Office in Islamabad to discuss the security situation with former secretaries and senior ambassadors earlier on Tuesday, Pakistan media reported.

Defence sources have reportedly said that the IAF strike lasted not more than 21 minutes, right from take off till the return into Indian territory. The strike took place in Balakote, 24 kilometre northwest of Muzaffarabad at around 3:45-3:53 am. The joint training camps of JeM, LeT and Hizbul Mujahideen were hit. Reports further suggested that the terrorist groups had emptied their launchpads but not the training camps.

Here are the three locations in Pakistan bombed by Indian Air Force today:

- Balakot, which is 24 kilometre northwest of Muzaffarabad, capital of Pakistan Occupied Kashmir, was struck between 3.45 am and 3.53 am. However, there is still confusion over whether this place falls in PoK or proper Pakistani territory.

- Muzaffarabad, capital of Pakistan Occupied Kashmir, was hit between 3.48 am and 3.55 am.

- Chakoti, was he last to be hit between 3.58 am and 4.04 am

NSA Ajit Doval along with Indian Army Chief Bipin Rawat and IAF Chief BS Dhanoa is reviewing the security situation on the borders after Indian Air Force strikes at Jaish-e-Mohammad terror camp in Balakot across Line of Control, reports have said.

An editorial in Dawn slammed the Indian media and said "particularly jarring are the armchair warriors of the media — especially on the Indian side — baying for the blood of the ‘other’." The editorial, titled War rhetoric & reality said, "There has also been a reprehensible effort to exploit the attack and work up anti-Kashmiri and anti-Muslim sentiments in India, predominantly by the storm troopers of Hindutva. But perhaps what is most worrisome is that ministers and members of the establishment on both sides are talking casually about war."

The article further notes: "In such a tense atmosphere, India should take up Pakistan’s offer to “give peace a chance” as the alternatives to constructive dialogue are confrontation and yet more hostility."

Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale told the media that the non-military pre-emptive strike in Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir's Balakot area was aimed solely at the Jaish-e-Mohammad and its leaders Masood Azhar. Sources at the Ministry of External Affairs told Firstpost that the attacks were carried out in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in Pakistan putting to rest the speculations whether the strikes were conducted in Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir or in Pakistan.

Large number of Jaish-e-Mohammad terrorists, trainers and senior commanders were eliminated in largest Jaish camp in Balakot, Gokhale said. The Ministry of External Affairs briefing was held after reports claimed that combat jets of the Indian Air Force bombed terror camps at multiple locations across the Line of Control on the Pakistani side in a pre-dawn strike.

The Indian retaliation comes 12 days after the Pakistan-based terror group, Jaish-e-Mohammed carried out the Pulwama attack in Kashmir, government sources said.

Gokhale further said that the camp was led by Maulana Yusuf Azhar alias Ustad Ghauri, brother in law of JeM Chief Masood Azhar. "In an intelligence-led operation in the early hours today, India struck the biggest training camp of Jaish-e-Mohammed in Balakot. In this operation, a very large number of JeM terrorists, trainers, senior commander and Jihadis were eliminated. Credible information was received that JeM was attempting other attacks in the country. A pre-emptive strike became important. India struck the biggest camp of JeM in Balakot."

Reports have said that a Pakistani drone has been shot down at around 6.30 am in Gujarat's Kutch region. More details on this are awaited.

The states of Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, and Jammu and Kashmir have been put on high alert as India expects Pakistani forces to retaliate after it carried out strikes. The Indian Air Force has reportedly readied the air defence missile system to nullify any possible air attacks.

National Security Advisor Ajit Doval has briefed Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Afterwards, the prime minister is scheduled to chair a crucial Cabinet Committee for Security meet, which will be attended by Minister of External Affairs, Sushma Swaraj, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley.

Balakote training camp is in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, which means India has struck inside Pakistani territory, and not just occupied areas of Jammu and Kashmir. This may account for the absence of official confirmation from the Defence Ministry as India has no wish to push Pakistan into a corner from where it has to hit back on Jaish-e-Mohammad’s behalf. Reuters is reporting that the Defence Ministry is saying it has no knowledge of violations of Pakistani airspace.

CNN-News18 reported quoting government sources that the Balakot Jaish camp has been completely flattened in the limited strikes conducted by Indian Air Force. The sources said that initial assessment of damages suggest at least 200 to 300 casualties.

At least 12 Mirage 2000 jets took part in the operation that dropped 1000 kilogramme bombs on terror camps across Line of Control, completely destroying it, ANI reported. The operation was launched at 3.56 am on Tuesday morning.

Indian Air Force sources told ANI that a group of Mirage 2000 jets struck a major terrorist camp in Balakot sector in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir. The sources said that the targetted militant training camp was 'completely destroyed' and the pilots safely came back into the Indian territory.

Pakistan on Tuesday alleged that Indian Air Force aircraft crossed the Line of Control and were forced to turn back after Pakistan Air Force scrambled into action. Pakistan Army spokesperson, Major General Asif Ghafoor tweeted Tuesday morning alleging that more than one Indian Air Force jet 'intruded' into Pakistani territory from Muzaffarabad sector. Ghafoor said, "Facing timely and effective response from Pakistan Air Force, (IAF jets) released payload in haste while escaping which fell near Balakot. No casualties or damage."

Khuram Malik, a Pakistani journalist, reported on Twitter that the incident was from around 1.45 am on Tuesday night. The Pakistan Army, however, has not provided any specific timeline.

The claim remains unsubstantiated from India. CNN-News18 reported that the Indian Air Force is yet to respond to their request to respond on Pakistan's claim.

Meanwhile, various news reports said that the IAF jets conducted a concentrated attack in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir to target the terror camps. CNN-News18 reported, quoting top defence ministry sources, that multiple IAF jets targeted Jaish-e-Mohammad camps in Balakot sector of Pakistan Occupied scheme.

This comes amid heightened tension between two nations in the wake of the Pulwama terrorist attack, which killed at least 42 Central Reserve Police Force jawans on 14 February. While Pakistan-based group Jaish-e-Mohammad had claimed responsibility within hours of the attack, Islamabad denies any role in the incident. India has, meanwhile, promised to take this seriously and give Pakistan an appropriate response at a befitting time.