Sushmita Dev, Dilip Paul, Dulal Mitra share their reaction of IAF’s airstrike

The country was still in slumber while 12 Mirage 2000 fighter jets of Indian Air Force took off from Gwalior and bombed three major camps of the terror group Jaish-E-Mohammed (JEM). The airstrike in Balakot area located in Muzaffarabad district of Pakistan occupied Jammu and Kashmir on the other side of the Line Of Control has reportedly eliminated close to 300 terrorists including Yousef Azhar, senior Jaish leader and brother-in-law of JeM chief Masood Azhar.

On February 14, 2019, a suicide terror attack was conducted by a Pakistan-based terrorist organisation Jaish-e-Mohammad, leading to the martyrdom of 40 brave jawans of the CRPF. JeM has been active in Pakistan for the last two decades and is led by Masood Azhar with its headquarters in Bahawalpur.

Since the news broke on media channels early today, politicians from different parties shared their reactions on Indian Air Force’s operation. Barak Bulletin spoke to some of the eminent politicians of Barak Valley and here is what they had to say,

Edited Excerpts:

I congratulate the IAF for their success, Sushmita Dev

Sushmita Dev, MP – Silchar, president of Mahila Congress and national spokesperson

of AICC

“I congratulate the IAF for their success. We lost the precious lives of our soldiers that loss is irreparable but the message is clear that India cannot be taken for granted.”

There are anti-national elements in India which function as agents of Pakistan are way more dangerous than the foreign terrorist organisations, Dilip Paul

Dilip Paul, MLA – Silchar and former deputy speaker, Government of Assam

“All who love their motherland India are very happy today, as India responded to the Pulwama attack in a befitting manner. But, as I said time and again before we need to be very careful. There are anti-national elements in India which function as agents of Pakistan are way more dangerous than the foreign terrorist organisations. The administration needs to identify and eliminate these anti-national elements. This is just the beginning, I think we must teach Pakistan an adequate lesson so that they never dare to attack Indian soldiers ever again,” says MLA Silchar, Dilip Paul.

Terrorism must be condemned and countered in the strongest possible manner. But as a party, we are a firm believer of peace and harmony, Dulal Mitra

Dulal Mitra, general secretary of CPI(M), Cachar

“Terrorism must be condemned and countered in a strongest possible manner. But, as a party, we are a firm believer of peace and harmony and we believe peace and harmony must be restored in each and every part of the world.

On behalf of Government of India, foreign secretary of India VK Gokhale briefed the nation about today’s airstrike. 

Here is the complete transcript as uploaded by Ministry of External Affairs

On 14 February 2019, a suicide terror attack was conducted by a Pak based terrorist organization Jaish-e-Mohammad, leading to the martyrdom of 40 brave jawans of the CRPF. JeM has been active in Pakistan for the last two decades, and is led by MASOOD AZHAR with its headquarters in Bahawalpur.

This organization, which is proscribed by the UN, has been responsible of a series of terrorist attacks including on the Indian Parliament in December 2001 and the Pathankot airbase in January 2016.

Information regarding the location of training camps in Pakistan and PoJK has been provided to Pakistan from time to time. Pakistan, however, denies their existence. The existence of such massive training facilities capable of training hundreds of jihadis could not have functioned without the knowledge of Pakistan authorities.

India has been repeatedly urging Pakistan to take action against the JeM to prevent jihadis from being trained and armed inside Pakistan. Pakistan has taken no concrete actions to dismantle the infrastructure of terrorism on its soil.

Credible intelligence was received that JeM was attempting another suicide terror attack in various parts of the country, and the fidayeen jihadis were being trained for this purpose. In the face of imminent danger, a preemptive strike became absolutely necessary.

This facility at Balakot was headed by MAULANA YOUSUF AZHAR (alias USTAD GHOURI), the brother-in-law of MASOOD AZHAR, Chief of JeM, VK Gokhale 

In an intelligence led operation in the early hours of today, India struck 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.

The Government of India is firmly and resolutely committed to taking all necessary measures to fight the menace of terrorism. Hence this 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. As the strike has taken place only a short while ago, we are awaiting further details.

The Government of Pakistan had made a solemn commitment in January 2004 not to allow its soil or territory under its control to be used for terrorism against India. We expect that Pakistan lives up to its public commitment and takes follow up actions to dismantle all JeM and other camps and hold the terrorists accountable for the actions.

New Delhi

February 26, 2019