10 Facts About Surgical Strike 2 Conducted By IAF In Balakot, Chakothi and Muzaffarabad
Zindagi jeene ke do hi tarike hote hai - jo ho raha hai hone do, bardaasht karte jao, ya phir zimmedari uthao usse badalneki!
The Indian Forces have taken up the dialogue seriously. After PMO India Narendra Modi gave freedom to the forces, the forces decided to show up high.
Indian Air Force carried out Surgical Strike 2, against the terror camps of Jaish-e-Mohammad and Lashkar-e-Taiba, who were dwelling in Pakistan.
With the help of the Indian Intelligence team, the IAF crossed the LoC and avenged the Pulwama attack within 12 days.
What is Surgical Strike?
A surgical strike is a planned military attack in which it is intended to damage only a legitimate military target or terrorist camps, with no or minimal collateral damage to surrounding structures, vehicles, buildings, or the general public infrastructure and utilities.
A surgical strike is mainly done in order to prevent escalation of the full-blown war. India has conducted many surgical strikes so far - mostly for the same reason - to wipe away the terrorists and invasions and attacks.
The first surgical strike carried by India against the terror camps in Pakistan was done by the Indian Army in 2016. The purpose of the surgical strike was to avenge the death of 19 soldiers in Uri Attack.
Surgical strike attacks can be carried out via air strike, airdropping special ops teams or a swift ground operation or by sending special troops. Precision bombing by fighter jets is also one type of surgical strike.
The Pulwama terror attack had led to nation-wide outrage, with the Indian youth taking to the roads and expressing solidarity.
Thus, Surgical Strike 2 was much needed and came too early than expected in the form of an airstrike by the Indian Air Force.
Here are 10 important facts related to Surgical Strike 2, the air strike conducted pre-dawn on 26th February 2019.
1 – Supervised by PMO India Narendra Modi
Indian PM Narendra Modi supervised entire IAF operation, followed real-time updates from the situation room at Rashtrapati Bhavan's South Block.
He discussed the plan of Surgical Strike 2 with Air Chief Marshal, after giving freedom to the forces.
2 – Planned by Air Chief Marshal Birender Singh Dhanoa
Indian Intelligence Department gave multiple options to Air Chief Marshal Birender Singh Dhanoa. He then planned multiple aerial strikes at terror launch pads and control rooms of Jaish-e-Mohammed.
The strategy was very clever as early-warning system AWACS and Heron drones were used. Even surveillance had been increased in the hours mounting to the attack.
3 – Targetted by 12 Mirage 2000 jets
A total of 12 Mirage 2000 aircraft, made by HAL in India itself, were used for Surgical Strike 2.
They were divided into groups of 3 and 4 to attack terror training camps in Balakot, Chakothi, and Muzaffarabad.
4 – Executed by IAF after crossing LoC
Surgical Strike 2 was carried out by the brave pilots of Indian Air Force, who crossed the LoC for the first time after the 1971 war on 26th February 2019.
Not just this, it was a strategic and bold move as IAF crossed PoK also to strike Balakot. As soon as IAF fighter jets came back to India, IAF took complete responsibility of the attack.
With this execution, the IAF is the 5th most feared air force in the world and there is no wonder why.
5 – Exploded terrorist camps with 1000 kgs of explosives
1000 kgs of explosives, in the form of laser light bombs, were dropped from the air on the terrorist camps in the disputed land of India and Pakistan.
Multiple 1000 kg bombs were dropped by the fighter jets on the camps, as planned and targetted. These terrorist camps belonged to Jaish-e-Mohammad and Lashkar-e-Taiba, and all major people died in the strike.
6 – Lasted for a total of 23 minutes
The air strike, or the Surgical Strike 2, as we proudly call it, commenced at 3.30 am local time on 26th Feb 2019. The air strike went on till 3.53 am local time.
It was a total of good 23 minutes that the Indian Air Force Mirage 2000 jets were in the Pakistan airspace. They were neither detected by the PAF radar's nor attacked.
7 – Reported no causalities for India or civilians
The non-military action of Surgical Strike 2 was planned in such a way that it specifically targeted the terrorist base camps. More than 300 terrorists in those camps including trainers and leaders were reported dead in the air strike.
India always desires to avoid civilian causalities and it did the same again. Also, no Indian pilots or IAF soldiers were harmed during this air strike.
8 – Highlighted intolerance of India against terrorism
India had repeatedly urged 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.
The Foreign Ministry had received intelligence of JeM gearing up for more attacks in the future. Thus, Surgical Strike 2 has removed the chances of further terrorist attacks. It has not only benefitted India but also the entire humanity.
9 – Conducted deep inside the Pakistan territory
The air strike (surgical strike 2) conducted by India on Pakistan was the first time in recent years that India has struck deep in the Pakistan territory. Earlier, the focus would be mostly along the LoC to hit terror targets.
Since it was supposed to be conducted deep inside Pakistan, the India Army or Indian Navy were not assigned this. This is for the first time that India showed its air power, with army and navy having done several combats earlier only.
10 – Embarrassed PAF by attacking in their territory
At 12 am on 26th Feb 2019, PAF tweeted – “Sleep tight because PAF is awake” and after the airstrike happened at 3.30 am, they were left embarrassed.
The Indian Air Force not just entered their airspaces but also left untouched after eliminating their terror camps. All this while the PAF was sleeping and now has millions of questions to answer.
These were 10 surgical strike 2 facts that will make you feel proud as an Indian.