Pakistani F16 jets were scrambled to retaliate against the IAF Mirage 2000s but turned back due to the size of the Indian formation. Western Air Command coordinated the operation. One of the targets destroyed by the IAF Mirage jets was in Pakistans Khyber Pakhtunkhwa area. The non millitary preemptive strike was absolutely necessary according to the press briefing by Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhle . The target was only terrorists and not Pakistan military or civilians.
Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale confirms target was chosen to avoid civilian casualties; JeM camp was run by Maulana Yusuf Azhar, brother-in-law of JeM chief Maulana Masood Azhar.India has confirmed a non-military preemptive strike on a major Jaish-e-Mohammed terror camp in Balakot. Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale said the target was chosen to avoid civilian casualties. He said the camp was run by Maulana Yusuf Azhar, brother-in-law of JeM chief Maulana Masood Azhar.
