26 February, 2019: Five years of Balakot airstrikes; "When India avenged its 40 martyrs by entering Pakistan, eliminating terrorists and destroying their training camps."

 

 

 

 

The Balakot airstrike occurred on February 26, 2019, when Indian Air Force jets conducted airstrikes targeting a Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorist training camp in Balakot, Pakistan and killing a large number of terrorists and trainers of the terror group.

 

 

 

The airstrike was a response to the Pulwama terror attack on February 14, 2019, where a suicide bomber affiliated with the Pakistan-based terrorist group Jaish-e-Mohammed targeted a convoy of Indian paramilitary personnel, resulting in the martyrdom of over 40 soldiers.

 

 

 

India attributed the Pulwama attack to Jaish-e-Mohammed and its support from Pakistan. The Balakot airstrike was conducted as a punitive measure, aimed at dismantling the infrastructure of terrorist groups operating in Pakistan and sending a strong message against cross-border terrorism.