New Delhi: Union Home Minister Amit Shah saluted Friday the valour of the Indian Air Force (IAF) fighters on the second anniversary of the Balakot air strikes. Amit Shah said under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, security of India and the soldiers is paramount.
IAF fighter jets crossed February 26, 2019 the Line of Control and destroyed terror launch pads in Balakot in Pakistan. According to various sources more than 250 terrorists were killed in the strikes.
“On this day in 2019, @IAF_MCC had made it clear the New India’s policy against terrorism by giving response to the Pulwama terror attack,” Shah tweeted.
“I remember the brave martyrs of Pulwama and salute the valour of the Air Force. Under the leadership of @narendramodi ji, security of the country and our soldiers is paramount,” Shah said in another tweet.
Also read: 2nd anniversary of Balakot strikes: This is how the successful operation was described by officials
The air strikes were undertaken days after 40 CRPF personnel were killed in a terror attack in Pulwama in Jammu and Kashmir. The terror attack took place February 14 when an explosive-laden vehicle crashed into the convoy and exploded.
The air strikes by the IAF escalated into a war-like situation between India and Pakistan. A couple of days after the Balakot strikes, Pakistani aircraft tried to enter Indian territory. However, they were intercepeted by the IAF. Both India and Pakistan lost an aircraft each during the dog fight.