IC-814 hijackers killed in air strikes

India on Tuesday conducted pre-dawn surgical strike in Pakistan knocking off terror camps and launch pads using a squadron of Mirage and 1000 kilograms of bombs that killed as many as 300 terrorists.

Sources: This was an intelligence based counter terror strike not a military action for sake of war. Have demolished entire terror set up in the suicide bombing training centre in Balakot, and over 300 terrorists were eliminated in the covert operation by Indian Air Force pic.twitter.com/FfotRHiZRq

— ANI (@ANI) February 26, 2019

The brother-in-law of Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) chief Masood Azhar, Yusuf Azhar was the prime target of the Indian air strikes. He was involved in the 1999 hijack of Indian Airlines plane IC-814 and was on Interpol lookout notice since 2000.

Key Jaish e Mohammed terrorists targeted in today's air strikes: Mufti Azhar Khan Kashmiri, head of Kashmir operations(pic 1) and Ibrahim Azhar(pic 2), the elder brother of Masood Azhar who was also involved in the IC-814 hijacking pic.twitter.com/IUv1njNygA

— ANI (@ANI) February 26, 2019

JeM's Yusuf Azhar alias Mohammad Salim alias Ustaad Gohri who was targeted today by IAF #airstrike in Balakot across LOC was on the Interpol list and among the most wanted in India. pic.twitter.com/1eTj8FhFMJ

— ANI (@ANI) February 26, 2019

Yusuf Azhar alias Ustad Gauri was heading the terror camp in Balakot, which was targeted and destroyed by the IAF. Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale said it was impossible to believe that such facilities, where hundreds of terrorists are trained, can operate without the knowledge of government of Pakistan.

It may be recalled that India had to release JeM chief Masood Azhar in exchange for the passengers who were onboard the Indian aircraft IC-814.