Page 1504 - Politics

IAF carries out aerial strike at terror camps in Pakistan occupied Kashmir: Sources

Indian Air Force carried out aerial strike at terror camps in Pakistan occupied Kashmir early this morning. "Twelve Mirage 2000 Indian fighter jets struck major terrorist camps across the Line of Control (LoC) and completely destroyed it by shelling 1000 Kg bombs", Indian Air Force (IAF) sources told ANI. "At 12.30 am, on February 26, a group of Mirage 2000 Indian Fighter jets struck major terrorist camps across the LoC and completely destroyed it," IAF sources said.

Pakistani drone shot down in Gujarat

The drone was shot down in Ambasa village, the sources added.Local police and Army officials were at the spot to examine it, they said.Early this morning, the Indian Air Force carried out air strikes at terror camps at multiple places in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, destroying camps and eliminating a large number of terrorists.

Indian Foreign Secretary's statement on IAF action against JeM

Following is the statement by Foreign Secretary Vijay K. Gokhale on the IAF military strike on the JeM training camp at Balakot:

Telangana: CMO to appoint PROs, PS for ministers

Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao on Tuesday decided that Chief Minister's Office (CMO) will appoint PROs (Public Relation Officer) and Personal Secretaries (PS) for his ministers.According to sources, the Chief Minister decided to directly appoint PS to Ministers by the CMO and the ministers will have no say in this. The decision was taken after allegations of corruption were levelled against some of PROs and PSs of ministers in the previous government.Earlier, every minister was entitled to appoint a PRO to send regular press releases to media on the respective minister's official programmes and decisions taken by his department. Remuneration between Rs 40,000 and Rs 70,000 per month was fixed for the PROs.Now, Rao has decided that CMO will select the secretaries after screening the officers and ensuring their efficiency in handling the ministries concerned. The CMO has also directed ministers not to appoint PS of their choice.

Government calls all-party meeting

The government has called an all-party meeting on Tuesday to brief opposition leaders about the IAF attack on Tuesday on the biggest training camp of the Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), which had claimed responsibility for the Pulwama terror attack.

India destroyed JeM camp, killed 'very large number' of terrorists and trainers: Foreign secretary

India conducted a major preemptive strike on a Jaish-e-Mohammed training camp early Tuesday, killing a "very large number" of terrorists, trainers and senior commanders, Indian Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale said. He said the "intelligence-led operation" on the Pakistan-based terror group's biggest training camp in Balakot became "absolutely necessary" as it was planning more suicide attacks in India. JeM claimed responsibility for the February 14 Pulwama attack on a CRPF convoy in which 40 soldiers were killed. Sources told PTI that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has briefed President Ram Nath Kovind and Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu about Tuesday's strike. It was not clear if the strike was on Balakote in Pakistan occupied Kashmir or Balakot in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. Gokhale also did not give details of how the attacks were carried out or confirm earlier reports by sources that Mirage aircraft were used to drop bombs in the operation. "Credible intelligence was ...

Bengal BJP finalising strategies for top-priority seats

With party chief Amit Shah setting a target of winning at least 23 Lok Sabha seats from West Bengal, the BJP state leadership is now finalising on "winnable constituencies" based on past elections for providing greater thrust during the campaign period.

Mamata hails 'amazing' Indian Air Force

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday hailed the Indian Air Force after it carried out air strikes across the Line of Control in Pakistan's Balakot.

Goa BJP lauds IAF strike on Pakistan terror camps

The Indian Air Force (IAF) strikes on terror camps in Pakistan have shown that India will not tolerate any Pulwama-like terror strike anymore, Goa BJP spokesperson and South Goa MP Narendra Savaikar said on Tuesday.

Rahul appoints Tripura royal scion as state party President

Congress chief Rahul Gandhi has appointed Tripura royal scion Pradyot Bikram Manikya Debbarman as the state party President, sources said here on Tuesday.

Legislators in Delhi Assembly give standing ovation to IAF for carrying out strikes on terror camps

Legislators from various parties attending the Delhi Assembly budget session gave a standing ovation on Tuesday to the Indian Air Force for carrying out pre-dawn air strikes on terror camps inside Pakistani territory. While Delhi Assembly Speaker Ram Nivas Goel congratulated the Indian Air Force for the strikes, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia dedicated the budget to the soldiers who were martyred in the Pulwama attack. "We are proud of our armed forces and I would like to dedicate our budget to the jawans who sacrificed their lives in the Pulwama terror attack," he said in his budget speech. I am presenting the budget at a time when the country is proud of the IAF strike after the Pulwama attack. "This budget is to fulfil the dream of the martyrs, for their families and their children who can gain better education," he said. Amid chants of 'Inquilab Zindabad, Bharat Mata ki Jai and Vande Matram', BJP legislators were marshalled out by the speaker for chanting pro-Modi slogans ...

IAF hits JeM's biggest training camp: India

Twenty days after a suicide bomber killed 40 CRPF troopers, India on early Tuesday struck the Jaish-e-Mohammed's (JeM) biggest training camp at Balakote in Pakistani-administered Kashmir, killing a very large number of terrorists and their trainers.

IAF hits JeM's biggest camp in Pakistan: India

Indian Air Force (IAF) jets early on Tuesday hit the biggest training camp of the Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) group in Pakistan, eliminating a very large number of terrorists and their trainers.

British opposition raises prospect of second Brexit referendum

Britain's main opposition Labour Party has said it could support a second Brexit referendum as the European Union opened the door to postponing the country's exit from the bloc beyond the March 29 deadline. Britain remains as divided as ever over Brexit, which a narrow majority of voters backed in a June 2016 referendum and speculation that London will ask for more time to negotiate its withdrawal has gathered steam in recent days. British Prime Minister Theresa May suggested Sunday that parliament may not be able to vote on her Brexit deal until March 12, just 17 days before Britain leaves the EU, provoking alarm at home. European Council President Donald Tusk said he had discussed the "legal and procedural context of a potential extension" when he met May on Sunday on the sidelines of an EU-Arab summit in Egypt's Sharm el-Sheikh. "I believe in the situation we are in, an extension would be a rational solution but Prime Minister May still believes she's able to avoid this scenario," .

IAF air strikes were badly needed to retaliate to Pulwama's loss: Majeed Memon

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Majeed Memon on Tuesday praised the Indian Air Force (IAF) for carrying out multiple aerial at terror launch pads at various places in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir, destroying control rooms of Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and some other infrastructure. "The air strikes in the wee hours by us on some of the terrorist hideouts in Pakistan is certainly a step that was badly needed to retaliate to Pulwama's loss," Majeed Memon told ANI."At the same time, we need to be very careful and strategic in taking such a huge step, as it is a highly sensitive and far-reaching action," Memon added.In the early hours of Tuesday, the Indian Air Force carried out multiple aerial strikes at terror launch pads at various places in PoK, destroying control rooms of JeM and some other infrastructure, 12 days after the Pulwama terror attack.The terror camps in Balakot, Chakothi and Muzaffarabad, capital of PoK, were struck by 12 Mirage 2000 jets with 1000 kg of explosives at ...

Massive Jaish camp targeted in Pakistan, many terrorists killed, says Foreign Secretary

The terror camp in a thick forest area atop a hill was led by Yusuf Azhar alias Ustad Gauri, brother-in-law of JeM chief Masood Azhar, Gokhale said, making a statement before the media, hours after the air strikes using Mirage 2000 were carried out.He said the "pre-emptive" strike by India had become absolutely necessary as there was credible information that JeM, which recently carried out terror attack in Pulwama, was planning further attacks in this country.A large number of Jaish terrorists, including top commanders, trainers and those terrorists who were to be the 'fidayeen' (suicide attackers) were eliminated in the "non-military" air strike, the Foreign Secretary said.He said the air strike was "conditioned" to avoid any civilian casualty.He said since the strike was carried out just a short while back, further details are awaited.Jaish-e-Mohammad terror outfit, Gokhale pointed, out has been operating in Pakistan for last two decades but Pakistan government has always denied ...

Kim reaches Vietnam, receives red carpet welcome

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, who reached Vietnam on Tuesday morning in his Green train, received red carpet welcome ahead of Hanoi Summit.According to the CNN, Kim arrived Tuesday to a red carpet welcome at 8:15 am Dong Dang railway station in Vietnam's Lang Song province.Kim greeted people and media persons standing outside the railway station with waves and smiles. Amid the heavy security, the Vietnamese officials received him warmly. Kim then got into a car to cover the remaining 100 miles to Hanoi. The North Korea leader had embarked on the two-and-half day journey, choosing to undertake a 60-hour-long train journey to the border city of Dang Dong in Vietnam which will be followed by a car ride to Hanoi.Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump is en route to Hanoi, Vietnam. Trump's Air Force One is scheduled to arrive Hanoi on Tuesday night. Most of the details of the much-anticipated meeting are still uncertain. Trump and Kim are expected to address a joint press conference ...

Air defence system at International Border, LoC put on alert

Indian Air Force has put on high alert all air defence systems along the international border and Line of Control (LoC) to respond to any possible action by Pakistan Air Force.This comes after Indian Air Force, in the early hours of Tuesday, carried out multiple aerial strikes at terror launch pads at various places in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), completely destroying them, including control rooms of Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terror group. The terror camps in Balakot, Chakothi and Muzaffarabad were struck by 12 Mirage 2000 jets with 1000 kg of explosives at around 3:30 am, IAF sources told ANI. India's response came 12 days after a CRPF convoy was attacked by a suicide bomber in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama, in which 40 security personnel were killed. Pakistan-based JeM claimed responsibility for the attack. Pakistan Army confirmed that Indian Air Force fighters penetrated across the LoC in PoK, dropping "payloads".

Pakistan acknowledges air strike by IAF

Pakistan Army confirmed that Indian Air Force fighters penetrated the Line of Control (LoC) and dropped "payloads" in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) early this morning.Pakistan Army spokesman Major General Asif Ghafoor, however, claimed that "no infrastructure got hit" and that there were "no casualties".In a tweet, Gafoor said Indian aircraft went "3-4 miles" across the LoC in Muzafarabad Sector of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK)."Under forced hasty withdrawal aircrafts released payload which had free fall in open area. No infrastructure got hit, no casualties. Technical details and other important information to follow," he added in the tweet.In an earlier tweet he said, "Indian aircrafts intruded from Muzafarabad sector. Facing timely and effective response from Pakistan Air Force released payload in haste while escaping which fell near Balakot. No casualties or damage"Indian Air Force on Tuesday carried out aerial strikes at multiple terror camps in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and .

Pak scrambled F16s to intercept IAF aircraft but abandoned seeing Indian formation

In relation to the Indian Air Force's (IAF) strike on terror launch pads across the LoC, the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) responded by scrambling F-16s to intercept them, but abandoned their pursuit considering the large size of the Indian formation, sources said.Sources also revealed that the operation was coordinated by the Western Air Command of the IAF.The terror camps at Balakot, Chakothi and Muzaffarabad were struck by 12 Mirage 2000 jets with 1000 kg of explosives at around 3:30 am on Tuesday.The targets included the control rooms of Jaish-e-Mohammad outfit that carried out a terror attack on a CRPF convoy in Pulwama in Jammu and Kashmir on February 14 in which 40 security personnel were killed and five injured.Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, in a hurriedly summoned security meeting after the IAF operation, said that clouds of danger are hovering over Pakistan and that his country should not be worried over India's operation."I have already said that I don't want to