Intel Sources: Ammunition dump blown up today in Balakot,Pakistan by IAF Mirages. The dump had more than 200 AK rifles, uncountable rounds hand grenades, explosives and detonators. Balakot is an epicentre for terror activities and training of terror groups; it had several accommodations for trainee terrorists. Masood Azhar had delivered inspirational speeches for trainee terrorists here

New Delhi: In the early morning hours of February 26, the Indian Air Force hit the training centre of Jaish-e-Mohammad in Pakistan. Balakot lies in the Mansehra district in the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province, which is situated nearly 18 miles from the North West Frontier Province in Pakistan. Trainers in Balakot, which is situated by the side of Kunhar River, were ex-army personnel.

The Pulwama attackers Jaish-e- Mohammed is dominant in Balakot and they also have several training camps that are operated by Masood Azhar’s brother-in-law Maulana Yousuf Azhar (alias Ustad Ghouri). The main reason for the air strike in Balakot was to eliminate Azhar (alias Ustad Ghouri).

Jaish-e-Mohammed in Balakot was likely to continue their plans for the next suicide mission in Kashmir. The terrorists were sent to Balakot for advance Daura-e-Khaas training in weapons, explosives and field tactics. Balakot is an epicentre for terror activities and training of terror groups and had several accommodations for trainee terrorists. Masood Azhar and other terrorist leaders had earlier delivered an inspirational speech for trainee terrorists in Balakot.

Vijay Gokhale, Indian Foreign Secretary termed this as a non-military attack over Balakot. This was majorly conducted to remove the terror uprising in the area of Balakot and was also done to destroy the JeM camps. The major air attack was done at 3:30 am, which caught Pakistan unaware. According to BBC Urdu, villagers in Manshera, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa said they heard four to five loud blasts between 3 am and 4 am on Tuesday morning, which provided clear evidence of the air attack.

The Balakot attack’s effectiveness is hard to assess because it is believed that terrorist groups are well structured and they have different formations to operate.