IAF Air Strike in Pakistan LIVE Updates: Be prepared for all eventualities, Imran tells Pak

IAF Air Strike in Pakistan LIVE UPDATES: Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale confirmed a "non-military preemptive action specifically targeted at a Jaish-e-Mohammed camp" run by Masood Azhar. The target was chosen to avoid civilian casualties, he said.

Indian Air Force Aerial Strike: The Indian Air Force has not yet responded to the claims. A media briefing will be held shortly. (File) — Indian Air Force Aerial Strike: India confirms air strike on Balakot terror camps run by JeM. (File)

IAF Air Strike in Pakistan LIVE UPDATES: India, early Tuesday morning, struck a key terror camp in Balakot, Pakistan, eliminating JeM terrorists including fidayeen who were undergoing training. At a press briefing, Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale confirmed a “non-military preemptive action” specifically targeting at a Jaish-e-Mohammed camp in Balakot. Gokhale said the target was chosen to avoid civilian casualties. Gokhale said the camp, located in thick forests on a hill top away from civilian areas, was run by Maulana Yusuf Azhar, brother-in-law of JeM chief Maulana Masood Azhar. He said there was credible information that JeM was planning suicide attacks similar to Pulwama in other parts of the country and hence this strike was necessary. Follow LIVE UPDATES here

Pakistan armed forces spokesperson Major General Asif Ghafoor claimed Indian aircraft “intruded from Muzaffarabad sector” and “dropped a payload” near Balakot “facing timely and effective response from Pakistan Air Force”. The attack took place in the early hours of February 26, and Gokhale said further details were awaited.

Reacting to India’s press briefing, Pakistan said it would respond to India’s “aggression” at a time and place of its choosing. Prime Minister Imran Khan has called for a joint session of Parliament on February 27.

Read | IAF strikes JeM camp in Balakot: Full text of India’s statement