Less than two weeks after the deadly suicide bomber attack on a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) convoy in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district, the Indian Air Force (IAF) early on Tuesday morning carried out air strikes across the Line of Control (LoC) and targeted several terror camps.
The move by the IAF drew praise from the sporting fraternity, with the likes of former India cricketers Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir leading the bandwagon of sports personalities applauding the massive operation.
While praising the IAF for launching the air strikes across the LoC, former opener Sehwag continued his witty style and mocked Pakistan by using the line which is mostly used by their cricketers during matches.
"The boys have played really well. #SudharJaaoWarnaSudhaarDenge #airstrike," he wrote on his official Twitter handle.
The boys have played really well. #SudharJaaoWarnaSudhaarDenge #airstrike
— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) February 26, 2019
Besides Sehwag, Gambhir was also among the first ones from the cricket fraternity to react on the air strikes carried out by India.
"JAI HIND, IAF @IAF_MCC @adgpi #IndiaStrikesAgain #IndiaStrikesBack #IndiaStrikes," Gambhir wrote.
JAI HIND, IAF @IAF_MCC @adgpi #IndiaStrikesAgain #IndiaStrikesBack #IndiaStrikes
— Gautam Gambhir (@GautamGambhir) February 26, 2019
Here is how others reacted:
Saina Nehwal: Big salute to our #IndianAirForce .... #IndiaStrikesBack .. Jai Hind
Big salute to our #IndianAirForce .... #IndiaStrikesBack .. Jai Hind
— Saina Nehwal (@NSaina) February 26, 2019
Yuzvendra Chahal: Indian Air Force. Bohot Hard Bohot Hard #IndiaStrikesBack #JaiHind
Indian Air Force Bohot Hard Bohot Hard #IndiaStrikesBack #JaiHind
— Yuzvendra Chahal (@yuzi_chahal) February 26, 2019
Mahesh Bhupathi: Jai Hind!!!! @IAF_MCC
Jai Hind!!!! @IAF_MCC
— Mahesh Bhupathi (@Maheshbhupathi) February 26, 2019
Mohammad Kaif: Salute to the Indian Air Force. Shaandaar #IndiaStrikesBack
Salute to the Indian Air Force. Shaandaar #IndiaStrikesBack
— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) February 26, 2019
Kidambi Srikanth: Hats off to the #IndianAirForce for their strike against terror. Every Indian is proud of you! Jai Hind!
#IndiaStrikesBack
Hats off to the #IndianAirForce for their strike against terror. Every Indian is proud of you! Jai Hind! #IndiaStrikesBack
— Kidambi Srikanth (@srikidambi) February 26, 2019
The air raids seen as Surgical Strikes 2.0 were carried out by 12 Mirage 2000 fighters of the IAF inside Pakistan killing 200 to 300 terrorists. The fighter jets crossed the LoC at 3:30 am and proceeded to target terror camps in Muzaffarabad and Chakoti in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir as well as Balakot in Khyber-Pakthunkhwa province of Pakistan.
Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale also confirmed in a press conference that IAF's Mirage 2000 fighter jets dropped laser-guided bombs at biggest terror camp of Jaish-e-Mohammad in Balakote of Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK).
The IAF's air strikes come just days after the convoy of 78 buses, in which around 2500 CRPF personnel were travelling from Jammu to Srinagar, was attacked by the Pakistan-based JeM, killing 40 CRPF soldiers.
