“Balakot area has been reactivated by Pakistan very recently. Obviously that shows that Balakot was affected and damaged and destroyed,” Rawat said.
New Delhi| Army Chief General Bipin Rawat on Monday informed that as many as 500 terrorists were waiting across the border to infiltrate into the Indian territory. soon after the temperature starts falling, the terrorists would be pushed into the Indian territory through areas that have less snow said, Rawat.
Speaking at the Young Leaders Training Wing program in Chennai, the Army chief said that the terror camp in Pakistan’s Balakot, which was destroyed by the Indian Air Force in February during an airstrike in retaliation of the Pulwama attack on CRPF personnel in Jammu and Kashmir, has been ‘reactivated’.
“Balakot area has been reactivated by Pakistan very recently. Obviously that shows that Balakot was affected and damaged and destroyed. That is why people had got away from there,” Rawat said at a press conference held in Chennai on Monday. “We know how to deal with ceasefire violations. Our troops know how to position themselves and take action. We are alert and will ensure that maximum infiltration bids are foiled,” said Rawat.
On February 26, The Indian Air Force carried out Balakot Airstrike just days after 40 personnel of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) were martyred in an attack on a convoy by terrorists. Following the airstrike, IAF chief Air Marshal Birender Singh Dhanoa had said that its military objective was achieved. During Balakot Airstrike, Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman brought down a Pakistani F-16 but was taken prisoner near the Line of Control (LoC). He was later released by Islamabad.
Pakistan had also decided to restrict access to its airspace after the Balakot strikes, resulting in a loss of 8.5 billion Pakistani rupees.
The airspace was opened in July, but Pakistani leaders have in recent weeks given statements on airspace closure following India’s move to scrap special status for Jammu and Kashmir.
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