After the Indian government had informed that Indian Air Force had destroyed training camps of Jaish‑e‑Mohammed in Balakot by bombing them on the early hours of 26th February, Pakistan had denied that any infrastructure was hit. They had claimed that only four bombs were dropped by IAF and all of them had missed the target by a distance and fell on empty grounds. They had also shared photographs of craters created by the bombs on the ground.
Following this, many people in India, including journalists and politicians, had chosen to believe the government of Pakistan more than India, and were asking for proof of the attack from the government. But now a Pakistani minister has admitted that India had bombed terror camps in Pakistan, that too in Pakistan parliament.
Speaking in a joint session of parliament of Pakistan, rail minister of Pakistan Sheikh Rashid said that 14 fighter planes of Indian Air Force had entered Pakistani air space, and the Madrassa run by “Azhar Sahab” at Jabba hill in Balakot was targeted. He added that at present the Madrassa is as good as not existent, implying that the Madrassa, which also doubles as a camp of Jaish, was destroyed by IAF.
“Azhar Sahab” here means Maulana Masood Azhar, the chief of Jaish‑e‑Mohammed, and it is well known that he runs a Madrassa at Balakot. Rashid informed the parliament that while 14 planes had entered Pakistan, 4 of them bombed the area while the rest 10 remained in defensive formation.
The 14 aircraft that the Pakistan Rail Minister mentioned include 12 Mirage 2000 fighter jets, one Airborne Early Warning and Control System aircraft Netra, and one unmanned aerial vehicle Heron.
