Srinagar: The Foreign Secretary of India Vijay Gokhale on Tuesday said that a large number of JeM militants, trainers, senior commanders were eliminated in largest JeM camp in Balakot in Pakistan. 

Addressing a press conference he said that the camp was led by Maulana Yusuf Azhar alias Ustad Ghauri, brother in law of JeM Chief Masood Azhar

He said that in an intelligence lead operation in the early hours today, India struck the biggest training camp of Jaish-e-Mohammed in Balakot. “In this operation, a very large number of JeM militants, trainers, senior commander & Jihadis were eliminated.”

He said that the operation was conducted on credible information received that JeM was attempting other attacks in the country. “A pre-emptive strike became important. India struck the biggest camp of JeM in Balakot.:

He said that India is firmly and resolutely committed to taking all measures to fight the “menace of terrorism”.

“This non-military pre-emptive action was targeted specifically at JeM camp. The selection of the target was also conditioned by our desire to avoid civilian casualties.”