Didn’t forgive, would never forget:
3 years back, on 14th February 2019, Pulwama attack occurred which almost brought Indian-Pakistan to the brink of war.
That day was marked as “Black day” in the history of India as 40 Indian soldiers were martyred in one of the worst attacks in Jammu and Kashmir. It happened after a suicide bomber rammed an IED-laden vehicle into the security convoy. The convoy had 78 buses in which around 2,500 personnel were travelling from Jammu to Srinagar. The attack, which was reported near Awantipora at nearly 3:15 pm resulted in the death of 40 CRPF jawans, while many others were left injured.
Days later, the attack was claimed by Pakistan-based terrorist group Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM). A 22-year-old suicide bomber Adil Ahmad Dar had rammed the explosive-laden vehicle into the bus. JeM had also released a video of the assailant Adil from Kakapora, who had joined the group a year earlier.
HOW INDIA RESPONDED:-
Tensions flared up between India and Pakistan after the attack. India India summoned Pakistan’s top envoy and lodged strong protest.
Prime Minister asserted that the security forces have been given permission to choose the timing, place and nature of their response to the Pulwama terror attack.
“All tears will be avenged” and the armed forces have been given “full freedom to decide the place, time, intensity and nature of the retaliation against the enemy. “I feel the same fire in my heart that’s raging inside you,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi said.
Nationwide protests erupted against the dastardly terror attack. Several countries including Pakistan’s all-weather friend China condemned the attack.
INDIA’S RESPONSE: IAF STRIKE ON JeM CAMP IN BALAKOT:-
After the Pulwama terror attack, the government of India urged the Financial Action Task Force Laundering (FATF) to put Pakistan on the blacklist. The FATF decided to keep it on the ‘grey list’ and gave Pakistan time till October 2019 to comply with the 27 conditions it had laid down in June 2018, when it was put on the ‘grey list’, with an attending caveat. If Pakistan failed to comply, it would be added to the blacklist. On 17 February, the state administration revoked security provisions for separatist leaders.
On February 26, twelve Mirage 2000 jets of the Indian Air Force crossed the Line of Control (LoC) and dropped bombs into Balakot, Pakistan. India claimed that it attacked a Jaish-e-Mohammed training camp and killed a large number of terrorists, reported to be between 300 and 350. Meanwhile, Pakistan claimed that they quickly scrambled jets to intercept the IAF jets, who dropped their payloads to quickly return over the Line of Control.After the Pulwama terror attack, the government of India urged the Financial Action Task Force Laundering (FATF) to put Pakistan on the blacklist. The FATF decided to keep it on the ‘grey list’ and gave Pakistan time till October 2019 to comply with the 27 conditions it had laid down in June 2018, when it was put on the ‘grey list’, with an attending caveat. If Pakistan failed to comply, it would be added to the blacklist. On 17 February, the state administration revoked security provisions for separatist leaders.
On February 26, twelve Mirage 2000 jets of the Indian Air Force crossed the Line of Control (LoC) and dropped bombs into Balakot, Pakistan. India claimed that it attacked a Jaish-e-Mohammed training camp and killed a large number of terrorists, reported to be between 300 and 350.
Pakistan’s failed strike:
A day later on February 27, IAF foiled an attempt by PAF to strike at military installations in Jammu and Kashmir. In the aerial skirmish, Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman piloting a MiG-21 Bison aircraft shot down a much-advanced F-16 of PAF.
However, his aircraft was also hit and upon ejection, his parachute landed in PoK, where he was taken captive by Pakistan Army.
Under international pressure, Pakistan released the IAF pilot two days later, who returned to his country to a hero’s welcome.
SALUTE TO THE BRAVE CRPF INDIA WHO LAID DOWN THEIR LIVES IN THE LINE OF DUTY IN 2019 ON THIS VERY DAY, IN THE PULWAMA ATTACK.
ARATI AGARWALLA
(Internship trainee)