In the audio message, top Jaish-e-Mohammed commander can be heard admitting that the Balakot terror camps were attacked by the IAF

New Delhi: Even as the opposition is demanding proof from the Centre about the Indian air strike on Pakistan’s Balakot, a top Jaish-e-Mohammed commander has openly confessed about the terror camp being hit by IAF forces. Addressing his followers the JeM commander can be heard talking about India’s pre-emptive strike. Narrating the whole incident he says that the enemy crossed over into Pakistan and launched attacks on Islamic 'Markaz' (Centre).

“By doing so, the enemy has declared the war against our country. They bombed the centre where students were trained to understand the concept of 'Jihad' so as to assist the oppressed Kashmiris,” he says.

Indian Air Force had launched the preemptive air strike on Balakot in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on 26 February. 12 Mirage 2000 fighter jets crossed the LoC and launched an air strike on Jaish-e-Mohammed training camp in retaliation against Pulwama terror attack in which 40 CRPF Jawans lost their lives.

Immediately after the strike, few opposition leaders questioned the veracity of the damage. Few days before, West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee had asked the Centre to provide the exact details of the air strike including the number of casualties inflicted. Quoting international media she further said that there was no damage to the camp.

"We, as the Opposition, want to know the details of the air strike. Where were the bombs dropped? How many people died? I was reading the New York Times and Washington Post and they said that there were no casualties. Some media houses said one died. We want to know the details," Banerjee had told reporters in Kolkata.

Meanwhile, the Standing Committee on External Affairs has also told the Narendra Modi-led NDA government to provide evidence regarding the air strike and the number of deaths.