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This story is from February 14, 2020

A year of Pulwama terror attack: What happened and how India responded

A year of Pulwama terror attack: What happened and how India responded
NEW DELHI: On this day, a year ago, forty CRPF personnel were martyred when a CRPF convoy was targetted by terrorists in Jammu. The attack was followed by weeks of intense military skirmishes across the border between the two sides.
Here is a look at the attack and the events which unfolded after it...
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The attack - CRPF convoy targetted, 40 martyred

At 3.00 pm on February 14, 2019, a Pakistan-backed Jaish-e-Mohammed suicide bomber rammed an explosive-laden vehicle into a CRPF convoy at Jammu-Srinagar National Highway near Awantipora in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district. The convoy consisted of 78 buses carrying around 2,500 CRPF personnel. The convoy was on its way to Srinagar from Jammu.
The perpetrator was identified as Adil Ahmad Dar, a 22-year old from Kakapora, Pulwama.
Pulwama

Forty CRPF personnel were martyred in the attack and 35 were others were injured. It was the deadliest terror attack on India's state security personnel in Kashmir since 1989.
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The reaction - Countries around the world condemn the attack

Nationwide protests erupted against the dastardly terror attack even as the country bid goodbye to its bravehearts. Leaders across the party lines and civil society condemned the attack and called for an appropriate response.

"I feel the same fire in my heart that's raging inside you," Prime Minister Narendra Modi would declare on February 17, days after the attack took place.
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United Nations and several countries from across the globe condemned the Pulwama terror attack and extended their support to India in the fight against terrorism.

China, the "all-weather friend" of Pakistan also backed the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolution on the "heinous and cowardly" Pulwama terror attack that was unanimously adopted by permanent and non-permanent member countries of the global body.

Following the dastardly attack, India had launched extensive diplomatic efforts to get JeM chief Masood Azhar designated as a global terrorist, which finally became a reality on May 1 when China lifted its technical hold on a proposal introduced by the US, the UK, and France in the 1267 Committee of the UN Security Council.
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The retaliation - Air strikes on terror camps in Balakot

Twelve days after the strike on the CRPF convoy, in the wee hours of February 26, Indian Air Force jets bombed the JeM camp in Balakot, in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The airstrike was the first time since the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 that attacking warplanes had crossed the Line of Control.

As per the news reports, 12 Mirage 2000 jets were involved in the operation. The jets were carrying SPICE 2000 & Popeye precision-guided munitions and were supported by four Sukhoi Su-30MKI, Netra and Phalcon airborne early warning and control aircraft, an IAI Heron UAV and two Ilyushin Il-78 aerial refuelling aircraft.
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"In an intelligence-led operation in the early hours of today(Feb 26), India struck the biggest training camp of JeM in Balakot. In this operation, a very large number of JeM terrorists, trainers, senior commanders and groups of jihadis who were being trained for fidayeen action were eliminated. This facility at Balakot was headed by MAULANA YOUSUF AZHAR (alias USTAD GHOURI), the brother-in-law of MASOOD AZHAR, Chief of JeM," the then foreign secretary said in a press conference later in the day.
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The counter-retaliation - PAF jets cross LoC

"India has committed uncalled for aggression to which Pakistan shall respond at the time and place of its choosing...Armed Forces and the people of Pakistan to remain prepared for all eventualities," Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan said following the attack.

A day later on February 27, IAF foiled an attempt by PAF to strike at military installations in Jammu and Kashmir. In the skirmish, IAF also lost a Mi-17 transport chopper.

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The Indian military later stated that three Pakistan Air Force jets had crossed the Line of Control from Nowshera, J&K and had dropped bombs over Nadian, Laam Jhangar, Kerri in Rajouri District and Hamirpur area of Bhimber Galli in Poonch, before being pushed back by six Indian airforce jets.
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Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman captured

In the aerial skirmish, Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman piloting a MiG-21 Bison aircraft shot down a much-advanced F-16 of PAF. However, his aircraft was also hit and upon ejection, his parachute landed in PoK, where he was taken captive by Pakistani Army.
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Later, Pakistan released videos and photographs of Varthaman in custody. He was shown being interrogated by Pakistani soldiers while blindfolded with a bloody face. Other videos showed him receiving first aid and being further interrogated over a tea.
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Varthaman crosses Wagah border

A day later, PM Imran Khan announced in Parliament that Varthaman would be released. Shah Mehmood Qureshi, the foreign minister of Pakistan said that his government announced the release of the IAF Wing Commander out of a desire for peace. PM Narendra Modi welcomed the release of Abhinandan at a political rally, asserting that the nation was proud of him. On March 1, 2019, an IAF delegation received Varthaman across the Wagah border.
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