'Informed Pak Before Disclosing To World'; Says PM Modi On Balakot Strikes

On Monday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi asserted that he had informed Pakistan about the 2019 Balakot air strikes before disclosing them to the world.

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He said during a poll rally in Bagalkot, Karnataka, that "Modi believes in confronting openly face to face and not attacking from behind."

The Prime Minister stated, "I instructed the forces to contact the media and update them. However, I had previously mentioned that I would personally inform Pakistan via telephone about the airstrikes conducted at night and the resulting damage. Unfortunately, Pakistani officials did not respond to the call. Consequently, I directed the forces to hold off, and after informing them, we subsequently revealed to the world about the airstrikes conducted during the night."

What Did PM Modi Say On Balakot Strikes

PM Modi further commented that he does not conceal things or launch hidden attacks, preferring instead to act openly.

He also issued a warning to those attempting to harm innocent people in the country, stating, "This represents Naya Bharat (New India). We will enter their homes and strike (kill inside one's territory)."

He also mentioned that during India's air strikes in Pakistan, many initially confused the location with Bagalkot, a district in Karnataka due to their similar-sounding names.

"We subsequently held a press conference and revealed information about the strikes and the damage inflicted upon the enemies," he informed the audience.

The Balakot airstrike occurred on February 26, 2019, when Indian warplanes targeted a Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorist training camp in response to the Pulwama terror attack.

After the Balakot strikes, India had reported that the overnight operation had resulted in the deaths of a "significant number of JeM terrorists, trainers, senior commanders, and groups of jihadis."

The Ministry of External Affairs stated in an official statement that the terrorists were undergoing training for "fidayeen" action, and Maulana Yusuf Azhar, also known as Ustad Ghauri and the brother-in-law of JeM chief Masood Azhar, was heading the facility in Balakot.

The statement mentioned that credible intelligence indicated JeM's plans for another suicide terror attack in different areas of the country, with fidayeen jihadis undergoing training for this purpose. Given the imminent threat, it became crucial to carry out a preemptive strike.

The statement clarified that this non-military preemptive action specifically targeted the JeM camp. The choice of target also considered the goal of minimizing civilian casualties, as the facility is situated in a dense forest on a hilltop, far removed from any civilian presence.

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