India had made it clear that terrorism must be eradicated, says MoS External Affairs VK Singh

India carried out another surgical strike across the Line of Control in early morning hours on Tuesday. According to news agency ANI, the Indian Air Force’s Mirage 2000 dropped 1,000 Kg bombs and destroyed major terrorist camp across Line of Control. At 3:30 am, Mirage 2000 struck the camp, which is supposed to be located somewhere in Balakot. 12 Mirage 2000 jets took part in the operation that dropped 1000 Kg bombs on terror camps across LOC, completely destroying it, the ANI report said. The airstrike comes 12 days after the dastardly terror attack on a CRPF convoy in Pulwama in which 40 personnel were killed. Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed claimed the responsibility of the attack. 

Here are the LIVE updates:

7.53 pm: India had made it clear that terrorism must be eradicated, we had given many chances to Pakistan, therefore, India was forced to take action so that these things can be stopped, says Minister of State for External Affairs VK Singh on India strikes at Jaish-e-Mohammed camp in Balakot.

6.58 pm: 

#WATCH EAM Sushma Swaraj after all party meeting: I am happy that all parties in one voice praised the security forces and supported the Govt's anti-terror operations. pic.twitter.com/AOaIhMIDln

— ANI (@ANI) February 26, 2019

6.57 pm: I am happy that all parties in one voice praised the security forces and supported the Government's anti-terror operations, says Sushma Swaraj after the all-party meet.

05: 45 pm: Our Indian Air Force has avenged Pulwama attack, said Amit Shah.

05.24 pm: External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, High Commissioner of India to Pakistan Ajay Bisaria, National Conference leader Omar Abdullah, Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, Home Minister Rajnath Singh, CPM leader Sitaram Yechury and Congress leader Gulam Nabi Azad are present in the meeting.

5.06 pm: All-party meet begins after IAF's skrikes terror camps across LoC, Sushma Swaraj to brief. 

4.17 pm: Punjab has put its border districts on high alert in the wake of the Indian Air Force's (IAF) strikes across the Line of Control, undertaken by India as a retaliatory measure in the aftermath of the Pulwama terror attack: Punjab chief minister office.

3.59 pm: A total of six bombs were dropped on Pakistan based terrorist camps by the Indian Air Force Mirage 2000s: Government sources.

3.30 pm: Ex-Army Chief General Bikram Singh: It's an excellent operation that has been undertaken. It was certain it'll happen, it was writing on the wall as PM had announced it. We've seen that earlier when PM announced after Uri we went in for surgical strike 1.This is surgical strike 2

3.20 pm: Dean of Diplomatic Corps, Hans Castellanos: Satisfied that Indian govt has had such a rapid response in informing Heads of Missions. The info is that they did not affect any civilian or any Pak military installation, that it was direct attack due to credible intelligence received

3.10 pm: India committed uncalled for aggression to which Pakistan shall respond at time and place of its choosing at Pakistan NSC meeting.

3 pm: Pakistan foreign, defence and finance ministers to hold press conference soon.

1.58 pm: Foreign diplomats from the USA, UK, Russia, Australia, Indonesia, Turkey and six ASEAN nations being briefed by Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale on Indian air strike across LOC in Balakot.

1.38 pm: Slogans of 'Imran Shame Shame' chanted in Pakistan Parliament.

1.20 pm: PTI reported that Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday made an indirect reference to the air strikes carried out by the Indian Air Force on terror camps across the LoC when he sought an apology from the audience at the Rashtrapati Bhawan for being late as he was "busy" with "some other work". In a pre-dawn operation, the Indian Air Force bombed terror camps at multiple locations across the Line of Control (LoC) on the Pakistani side, 12 days after the Jaish-e-Mohammed terror group carried out the Pulwama attack in Kashmir.

1 pm: Mallikarjun Kharge, Congress on IAF strike at JeM camp across LoC: We've always said that whatever action the forces take for protection of this nation, all of us will support them in unity, they are taking action against the terrorists in Pakistan. I congratulate them

12.52 pm: India to brief world leaders on strike.

12.48 pm: Pakistan violates ceasefire in Jammu.

12.40 pm: PM Modi to address the nation from Churu in Rajasthan.

12.30 pm: NSA Ajit Doval along with Indian Army Chief Bipin Rawat and IAF Chief BS Dhanoa is reviewing the security situation on the borders after Indian Air Force strikes at JeM terror camp in Balakot across LoC.

12.12 pm: External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj calls all-party meeting at 5 pm today.

11.58 am: Pakistan Prime Minister will chair important meeting. 

11.35 am: Foreign Secreatry Vijay Gokhale says,"This facility in Balakot was headed by Maulana Yusuf Azhar alias Ustad Ghauri, brother in law of JeM Chief Masood Azhar...The selection of the target was also conditioned by our desire to avoid civilian casualty. It's located in deep forest on a hilltop."

11.20 am: Pakistan DG ISPR has clarified that Indian aircraft intrusion across LOC in Muzaffarabad sector within AJK was 3 to 4 miles. DG ISPR says under forced hasty withdrawal, the Indian aircraft released payload which had free fall in an open area. @OfficialDGISPR says no infrastructure got hit & there were no casualties.

DG ISPR says under forced hasty withdrawal, the Indian aircraft released payload which had free fall in an open area. @OfficialDGISPR says no infrastructure got hit & there were no casualties https://t.co/Ut5bpidFFx #PakistanArmy, #PakistanAirForce, #PakistanZindabad

— Radio Pakistan (@RadioPakistan) February 26, 2019

11.05 am: This is what BSP chief Mayawati tweeted:

पीएम ने पुलवामा के जवानों की शहादत के बदले में कार्रवाई करने के लिये अब जो फ्री हैण्ड सेना को दिया है अगर यह फैसला मोदी सरकार द्वारा पहले ले लिया गया होता तो पठानकोट, ऊरी व पुलवामा जैसी अति-दुःखद व अति-चिन्तित करने वाली घटनायें नहीं होती और न ही इतने जवान शहीद होते।

— Mayawati (@Mayawati) February 26, 2019

11 am: I salute the Indian Air Force and indeed all our Armed Forces. Congratulations @IAF_MCC, says Akhilesh Yadav.

I salute the Indian Air Force and indeed all our Armed Forces. Congratulations @IAF_MCC

— Akhilesh Yadav (@yadavakhilesh) February 26, 2019

10.58 am: My Salute to the Indian Airforce. Jai Jawan.. Jai Hind.. #IndiaStrikesBack #IndianAirForce, tweets Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy.

My Salute to the Indian Airforce.
Jai Jawan.. Jai Hind..#IndiaStrikesBack #IndianAirForce

— H D Kumaraswamy (@hd_kumaraswamy) February 26, 2019

10.57 am: IAF also means India's Amazing Fighters. Jai Hind, tweets West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

IAF also means India's Amazing Fighters. Jai Hind

— Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) February 26, 2019

10.56 am: China and Pakistan foreign ministers spoke on the phone after the attack, reports.

10.54 am: "Necessary step by Air Force": Union Minister Prakash Javadekar on reports of India's strike on terror camps over LoC.

10.52 am: Pakistani F16s were scrambled to retaliate against IAF Mirage 2000s but turned back due to the size of Indian formation. Western Air Command coordinated operation, reports ANI.

10.45 am: Foreign secretary Vijay Gokhale to brief the media at 11.30 today.

10:35 am: PM Modi-led CCS meeting ends, big announcement on ‘surgical strike’ soon.

10: 30 am: As per sources NSA Ajit Doval was monitoring himself all the operations as it was carried out and planned under his guidance.

10:05 am: 

'क्षमाशील हो रिपु-समक्ष
तुम हुए विनीत जितना ही,
दुष्ट कौरवों ने तुमको
कायर समझा उतना ही।

सच पूछो, तो शर में ही
बसती है दीप्ति विनय की,
सन्धि-वचन संपूज्य उसी का जिसमें शक्ति विजय की।'#IndianArmy#AlwaysReady pic.twitter.com/bUV1DmeNkL

— ADG PI - INDIAN ARMY (@adgpi) February 26, 2019

10.02 am: Meeting of Cabinet Committee on Security underway at 7, LKM.

10 am: Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi calls for an emergency meeting at Foreign Office.

9.58 am: Indian Air Force has put on high alert all air defence systems along the international border and LoC to respond to any possible action by Pakistan Air Force, reports ANI.

9.57 am: We salute the @IAF_MCC for their consistent & determined effort to keep Indians safe. Jai Hind.

We salute the @IAF_MCC for their consistent & determined effort to keep Indians safe.
Jai Hind. https://t.co/RmfHQNlwH4

— Congress (@INCIndia) February 26, 2019

9.55 am: Intel sources have said that anticipating action by Indian forces after the terror attack in Pulwama, Jaish-e-Mohammed leaders were moved to safer locations. Abdul Rouf Asghar, brother of JeM chief Maulana Masood Azhar is said to have been moved out to Punjab. Sources added that Maulana Masood Azhar was also moved from a JeM camp in Bahawalpur, as reported by India Today.

9.53 am: JAI HIND, IAF 🇮🇳 @IAF_MCC @adgpi #IndiaStrikesAgain #IndiaStrikesBack #IndiaStrikes, tweeted Gautam Gambhir.

JAI HIND, IAF 🇮🇳 @IAF_MCC @adgpi #IndiaStrikesAgain #IndiaStrikesBack #IndiaStrikes

— Gautam Gambhir (@GautamGambhir) February 26, 2019

9.46 am: Unless we know which Balakote is being talked about by the Pakistani generals it’s pointless speculating about what we may have hit & what fallout the airstrike will have, Omar Abdullah.

If this is Balakote in KPK it’s a major incursion & a significant strike by IAF planes. However if it’s Balakote in Poonch sector, along the LoC it’s a largely symbolic strike because at this time of the year forward launch pads & militant camps are empty & non-functional.

— Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) February 26, 2019

9.46 am: If this is Balakote in KPK it’s a major incursion & a significant strike by IAF planes. However, if it’s Balakote in Poonch sector, along the LoC it’s a largely symbolic strike because at this time of the year forward launch pads & militant camps are empty & non-functional, tweeted Omar Abdullah.

RELATED

9.41 am: I salute the bravery of Indian Air Force pilots who have made us proud by striking terror targets in Pakistan, tweets Arvind Kejriwal.

I salute the bravery of Indian Air Force pilots who have made us proud by striking terror targets in Pakistan

— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) February 26, 2019

9.40 am: I salute the pilots of the IAF, tweeted Rahul Gandhi.

🇮🇳 I salute the pilots of the IAF. 🇮🇳

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) February 26, 2019

9.30 am: Subramanian Swamy on reported air strikes by IAF in Balakot, Chakothi & Muzaffarabad terror launch pads across LoC: Actually it was mostly on our own territory, which is called PoK- Pakistan Occupied Kashmir. So you can always bomb your own territory, nothing wrong.

Subramanian Swamy: Even if it was their territory, we have under the United Nation charter the right of self-defence. They have been attacking us & they say we want to give a thousand cuts to India, so our government did the right thing by giving them 1000 bombs. https://t.co/t1N22SzLHS

— ANI (@ANI) February 26, 2019

9.25 am: According to News 18 reports, 200-300 casualties on the Pakistani side.

9.15 am: Sources have said Army and Air Force officials are expected to brief the media about operational details.

9.14 am: "Pakistan will not think about responding, Pakistan will respond". What shape will response take? Where will response be? Will India have to respond to Pakistan's response?" Omar Abdullah tweeted.

9 am: Balakot, Chakothi and Muzaffarabad terror launch pads across the LOC completely destroyed in IAF air strikes. JeM control rooms also destroyed.

8.40 am: Indian Air Force’s Mirage 2000 dropped 1,000-kg bombs.

8.30 am: At 03.30 hours on February 26, a group of Mirage 2000 Indian Fighter jets struck a major terrorist camp across the LoC and completely destroyed it, IAF sources.