Exclusive insights on how the Balakot operation was planned with detailed intelligence on the targets and a combination of sophisticated weaponry and aerial strategy.
Hours before the Balakot strike deep in the heart of Pakistan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave no indication to those who met him that he had taken such a momentous decision. One that would push the two countries closest to a war since the stand-off in 2002 after the Pakistan-backed Jaishe-Mohammed terrorists attacked Kaluchak in J&K and killed 30 people. It would be the first time that India was conducting an air strike in mainland Pakistan since 1971. It was a decision as far-reaching as overtly declaring India’s nuclear capability, like Indira Gandhi and Atal Bihari Vajpayee did with the nuclear tests in 1974 and 1998. It signalled a paradigm shift in the way India would deal with Pakistan in future when it came to terror attacks.
Modi, though, appeared as collected as ever when he returned to his official residence—7, Lok Kalyan Marg—at 9.30 pm after a speaking engagement. The tense relations between India and Pakistan after the Pulwama attack on February 14 that saw 40 security personnel killed in a suicide bomb attack by the JeM had barely found a mention in his address. But his staff found it strange that the prime minister did not go to bed at midnight as usual. Instead, he kept working on files in his study while monitoring the progress of the air strikes on a JeM camp in Balakot.
This story is from the March 25, 2019 edition of India Today.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the March 25, 2019 edition of India Today.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Dating Updated
With millennials and Gen Z complaining of dating app burnout, new features and safety hacks are being rolled out to lure them back
Warp & Weft of History
British journalist Mishal Husain's Broken Threads is a rare mix of research and storytelling, making it a great read for anyone who wants to understand the history of South Asia's present
Love in a Time of War
Rana Safvi, one of India's foremost narrative historians, has written her debut novel
REVOLUTION ON THE ROOFTOP
THE GOVERNMENT'S ROOFTOP SOLAR PLANS FINALLY TAKE OFF AS 12 MILLION HOUSEHOLDS REGISTER FOR THE PM-SURYA GHAR: MUFT BIJLI YOJANA. NOT ONLY WILL IT MEAN SAVINGS FOR HOUSEHOLDS, IT WILL ALSO TAKE THE COUNTRY ONE STEP CLOSER TO MEETING ITS RENEWABLE ENERGY TARGETS
COMEDY of TERRORS
Anees Bazmee's upcoming Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 looks set to capitalise on the current popularity of the horror-comedy genre
OPERATION MESS-UP
A US COURT'S INDICTMENT OF A FORMER RAW AGENT ALLEGEDLY BEHIND THE PLOT TO ELIMINATE A KHALISTANI LEADER IS A NARRATIVE OF A BOTCHED OPERATION. ALSO AT STAKE IS THE FUTURE OF INDIA-US INTELLIGENCE COOPERATION
CAUGHT IN THE POLITICAL CROSSFIRE
SEVERAL FLAGSHIP PROJECTS FROM THE SAMAJWADI PARTY ERA, INCLUDING IN YADAV REDOUBT SAIFAI, REMAIN UNFINISHED. FUNDING SHORTAGES AND CORRUPTION PROBES ARE CITED AS REASONS, BUT OPPOSITION IS ANGRY
WOOING THE TRIBAL HEART
THE BJP WILL HAVE TO WORK HARD TO DISLODGE THE JMM'S NATURAL ADVANTAGE AMONG THE TRIBALS IN THE STATE AND RELY ON THE DEVELOPMENT NARRATIVE TO WREST THE STATE BACK FROM ITS RIVALS
Action-Packed Desi Spin-off
The filmmaker duo Raj & DK are back with Citadel: Honey Bunny, the Indian edition of Amazon Prime Video's global franchise
THE MAHA BATTLE FOR SURVIVAL
MAHARASHTRA IS THE BIG PRIZE. WITH SIX PARTIES, TWO MAJOR ALLIANCES, IT IS LOOKING AT A NEVER-BEFORE ASSEMBLY POLL THAT MAY SEND TWO REGIONAL FORMATIONS INTO OBLIVION, CROWN TWO OTHER KINGS AND HAVE NATIONAL POLITICAL REPERCUSSIONS