On February 14, India was shocked after the Pulwama attack from the Pakistan based terrorist group Jaish-e-Mohammed as more than 40 Indian CRPF soldiers had lost their lives in a cowardly attack and there were calls of severing ties with Pakistan in every sector. Among all the cricketers, former Indian opener, Gautam Gambhir was the most vocal and he also felt that the talks with Pakistan shouldn’t be on the table now and its time to go on the battlefield.
Ever since the attack, there were a lot of discussions and arguments over various issues. Even the calls for India boycotting Pakistan in the World Cup also increased as the final decision on the same is yet to be taken. Amidst everything, the Indian public woke up to a piece of stunning news on Tuesday. It has been reported that in a big overnight operation, the Indian Air Force (IAF) has destroyed the terror camps at three locations in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK).
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According to the IAF sources, quoted by Financial Express, as many as 12 Mirage 2000 Fighter jets of the IAF took part in the operation and 1,000 kgs bombs were dropped on terrorist training camps across the Line of Control (LoC). Various reports suggest that the control rooms of Jaish-e-Mohammed have been destroyed in the aerial strike by IAF and the strike is said to have taken place near Balakot, Muzaffarabad, and Chakothi which are quite a distance from LoC.
Delighted with the news Gambhir wasn’t behind after being made aware of India’s stunning response. He saluted the IAF for their response and wrote, “JAI HIND, IAF @IAF_MCC @adgpi #IndiaStrikesAgain #IndiaStrikesBack #IndiaStrikes.”
Here’s Gambhir’s tweet:
My salute to #IAF for showing great courage in the face of adversity. A fitting reply to cowardice! #JaiHind 🇮🇳
— Suresh Raina🇮🇳 (@ImRaina) February 26, 2019
लोहा लोहे को काटता है,
आग आग को काटती है,
सांप जब डंक मारता है, उसका एंटीडोट विष ही है,आतंकियों का विनाश अनिवार्य है|
भारतीय वायु सेना की जय हो @IAF_MCC
जय हिन्द 🇮🇳 जय हिन्द की सेना 🇮🇳— Navjot Singh Sidhu (@sherryontopp) February 26, 2019
The boys have played really well. #SudharJaaoWarnaSudhaarDenge #airstrike
— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) February 26, 2019
JAI HIND, IAF 🇮🇳 @IAF_MCC @adgpi #IndiaStrikesAgain #IndiaStrikesBack #IndiaStrikes
— Gautam Gambhir (@GautamGambhir) February 26, 2019
Apart from Gambhir few more cricketers and people from cricketing fraternity lauded the effort of the Indian Air Force. Here are the tweets:
Salute to the Indian Air Force. Shaandaar #IndiaStrikesBack
— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) February 26, 2019
Indian Air Force 🇮🇳👏 Bohot Hard Bohot Hard #IndiaStrikesBack #JaiHind 🇮🇳🇮🇳
— Yuzvendra Chahal (@yuzi_chahal) February 26, 2019
Scanning media, there are claims of India killing 200-300 militants in terror camps #Surgicalstrike2 #Pulwama
— Vikrant Gupta (@vikrantgupta73) February 26, 2019
INDIA 🇮🇳 💪 👊👊👊 @IAF_MCC PROUD OF YOU AS ALWAYS pic.twitter.com/1eARl98egz
— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) February 26, 2019
Kuch bada hone wala hai …TANKS GOING TOWARDS BORDER 👍 #surgicalstrike2 #IndianAirforce #Balakot #AirForce #Mirage2000 pic.twitter.com/Vhl53cdx4l
— Rohit Sharma🇮🇳⏺ (@rohitsharma000) February 26, 2019
Bravo to the #IndianAirForce! They have sent a much needed message against terror. We are proud of you. Jai Hind! 🇮🇳
— Ajinkya Rahane (@ajinkyarahane88) February 26, 2019
Proud of our #IndianAirForce, Salutes to the brave #IAF Pilots for destroying the terror camps.
— Wriddhiman Saha (@Wriddhipops) February 26, 2019
Saluting the #IndianAirForce fighters for their valor, courage and timely action. 🙏 https://t.co/CNPmH28mnz
— Shikhar Dhawan (@SDhawan25) February 26, 2019
Our niceness should never be comprehended as our weakness.
I salute the IAF, Jai Hind 🇮🇳— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) February 26, 2019
Pakistan's stupid claim that #IndianAirForce fighter jets entered & dropped payload but there's no casualty reminds me of the situation when a kid slaps another kid in a fight and the other kid says "Nahi laga", then goes back home & cries hard. 🔥😭😂#SurgicalStrike2 #Balakot
— Sir Jadeja fan (@SirJadeja) February 26, 2019
https://twitter.com/BollywoodGandu/status/1100256479221825536
https://twitter.com/Fufadji/status/1100260434819592192
Having said that the Secretary of Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) officially revealed that the attack has been taken place inside Pok by Indian Air Force and now the nation is proud of itself.