Live: Swaraj Apprises Counterparts About Balakot Air Strike

Sources have told wire agency PTI and ANI that Sushma Swaraj spoke to foreign ministers of China, Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Singapore today.

Marise Payne said urged both India and Pakistan to exercise restraint and avoid any action that would endanger peace in the region. “The Australian government is concerned about relations between India and Pakistan following the horrific terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir on Feb. 14, which Australia has condemned.”

Payne, however, added that Pakistan should do “everything possible” to make sure that extremist groups aren’t allowed to operate in its territory.

The European Union, earlier, had echoed similar views saying that it is essential to ensure these tensions do not escalate.

BloombergQuint discusses geopolitical ramifications of the Balakot strike with Pushan Das, Michael Kugelman and Lalit Mansingh.

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said that all parties have given their full backing to the government for any action against terrorism.

Congress minister Ghulam Nabi Azad said that the operation, done in Pakistan occupied Kashmir, hurt no civilians or collateral damage.

The European Union on Tuesday called on Indian and Pakistan to exercise “maximum restraint” after India said that its air force destroyed a militant camp in Pakistan sending tensions soaring between the two historic arch-rivals.

“We remain in contact with both countries and what we believe is essential is that all exercise maximum restraint and avoid further escalation of tensions,” EU spokeswoman Maja Kocijancic told reporters.

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj had called for an all-party meet for briefing the opposition on the Balakot strike.

Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said, “India has conducted a violation of the Line of Control and Pakistan reserves the right to an appropriate response.”

He added that the situation is very sensitive and he wouldn’t want it to escalate any further.

Pakistan Prime Minister’s Office rejected India’s claim of casualties near Balakot. The statement said that Pakistan is now taking local and foreign media to the 'impact site'.

“Forum strongly rejected Indian claim of targeting an alleged terrorist camp near Balakot and the claim of heavy casualties,” the Pakistan PMO said on Twitter. “Once again Indian government has resorted to a self serving, reckless and fictitious claim.”

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is speaking for the first time after the strike against Jaish-e-Mohammed's biggest terror camp in Pakistan.

The country is in safe hands, he said, addressing a rally in Churu, Rajasthan.

“I swear on the country's soil, I will not let the country fall, stop in its progress, or bend. The country is awakening and every Indian will win.”

India undertook a covert operation based on intelligence, and the target was about 80 kilometers inside the line of control, Bloomberg News reported citing a government official who declined to be identified citing rules.

More than 300 terrorists were killed in the strike, the official added.

India’s Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj has called for an all-party meeting at 5 p.m. today, according to ANI.

India’s Foreign Secretary Vijay Keshav Gokhale confirmed that India carried out air strikes and destroyed a Jaish-e-Mohammed training camp in Balakot.

Here’s what he had to say:

“Pakistan has taken no concrete action to dismantle the infrastructure of terrorism on its soil. Credible intelligence was received that the Jaish-e-Mohammed was planning other suicide terror attacks 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.”

“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.”

Click here for the full statement.

Calling Pakistan a responsible nation, Pakistani Foreign Minister SM Qureshi said that the country needs to move forward "wisely", according to a Bloomberg report citing Samaa TV.

Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan has called a meeting after the Indian Air Force violated the line of control, he added.

The entire nation stands firmly behind the armed forces, Human Resources and Development Minister Prakash Javadekar told PTI.

"Salute the brave pilots of the @IAF_MCC that carried out the strikes," Minister of State for External Affairs Vijay Kumar Singh tweeted, moments ago.

The Western Air Command , located at Subroto Park , New Delhi, has over 200 bases placed under its command and has been involved in all major operations in India since independence, according to the Indian Air Force website.

Due to its geographical location, the Command has always been the hub-centre of all operational activities during any operation. Some of the major operations handled are Kashmir Operations 1947-48, Sino-Indian Conflict 1962, Indo-Pak War 1965, Indo-Pak War 1971, Operation Pawan 1986 (Sri Lanka) and Operation Safed Sagar 1999 (Kargil)

India’s Foreign Secretary Vijay Keshav Gokhale, will brief the media at 11:30 a.m., at the Ministry of External Affairs headquarters today. This comes right after a Cabinet Committee on Security meeting, and a reported air strike by India.

The Cabinet Committee On Security meet being held at the Prime Minister’s residence, has now concluded.

Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi has summoned an emergency meeting in Islamabad to discuss the developing situation, ANI reported, citing Radio Pakistan.

The Cabinet Committee on Security is currently holding a meeting at Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s residence, according to ANI.

The committee includes Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj, Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Defence Minister Niramala Sitharaman, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, National Security Adviser Ajit Doval.

Congress President Rahul Gandhi tweeted out a “salute” to the Indian Air Force.

BloombergQuint is yet to receive any official confirmation from the Indian Defence spokesperson or the Indian Air Force.

ANI, citing unnamed Indian Air Force sources, reported that a group of Indian fighter jets struck a major terrorist camp across the Line of Control at 3:30 a.m.

Indian Defense Ministry spokesperson told Bloomberg that they do not have any information of the alleged air strike on Pakistan.

A Pakistan army spokesperson alleged that Indian fighter jets violated a line of control between the two countries as tensions between the two rivals escalated following a terrorist attack in Pulwama earlier this month.

Indian fighter jets intruded from the Muzafarabad sector and released the payload in “haste” after retaliation from the Pakistani army, Major general Asif Ghafoor tweeted today.

Tensions between the two countries have been high since a militant car bombing, claimed by Pakistan-based, United Nations-designated terrorist group Jaish-e-Mohammed, on Feb. 14 in Jammu & Kashmir killed 40 members of India’s CRPF. This was the deadliest strike in decades.