Twitter has been flooded with posts after India carried out 'pre-emptive, non-military' air strikes on a Jaish-e-Mohammed camp across the Line of Control or LoC. Celebrities like Rajinikanth, Kamal Haasan, Salman Khan, Akshay Kumar, Priyanka Chopra, Ajay Devgn, Ranveer Singh, Varun Dhawan and others have posted tweets praising the air force. Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale said on Tuesday that the operation, reportedly conducted early morning by 12 Mirage 2000 jets, targeted the Jaish-e-Mohammed's largest camp - the Jaish-e-Mohammed claimed responsibility for the terror attack in Pulwama two weeks ago which killed 40 CRPF soldiers. Mr Gokhale also said that the government was acting on 'credible intelligence' that the Jaish-e-Mohammed planned to carry out more terror attacks. The air strikes have filled up the trends list on Twitter today: 'Surgical Strike 2', 'Indian Air Force' and 'India Strike Back' are some of the top trends.
Actor-politician Rajinikanth wrote, "Bravo India."
BRAVO INDIA
- Rajinikanth (@rajinikanth) February 26, 2019
Actor-politician Kamal Haasan tweeted, "Our 12 return safely home after wreaking havoc on terrorist camps in Pakistan. India is proud of its heroes. I salute their valour."
Our 12 return safely home after wreaking havoc on terrorist camps in Pakistan. India is proud of its heroes. I salute their valour.
- Kamal Haasan (@ikamalhaasan) February 26, 2019
"Respect, Indian Air Force... Jai ho," read Salman Khan's tweet.
Respect @IAF_MCC Indian Air Force... Jai ho !!!
- Salman Khan (@BeingSalmanKhan) February 26, 2019
Akshay Kumar in his tweet said that he is "proud" of the Indian Air Force. "Proud of our Indian Air Force fighters for destroying terror camps. Quiet no more! India Strikes Back," he posted.
Proud of our #IndianAirForce fighters for destroying terror camps. ! Quiet no more! #IndiaStrikesBack
- Akshay Kumar (@akshaykumar) February 26, 2019
Priyanka Chopra, who is currently in Delhi, sent out this tweet:
Jai Hind #IndianArmedForces
— PRIYANKA (@priyankachopra) February 26, 2019
Ajay Devgn was similarly jubilant.
Mess with the best, die like the rest. Salute #IndianAirForce.@narendramodi.
- Ajay Devgn (@ajaydevgn) February 26, 2019
Ranveer Singh simply tweeted this:
Jai Hin @IAF_MCC
— Ranveer Singh (@RanveerOfficial) February 26, 2019
From London, Varun Dhawan tweeted:
!! Respect @IAF_MCC
- Varun Dhawan (@Varun_dvn) February 26, 2019
Meanwhile, this tweet arrived on Amitabh Bachchan's timeline:
T 3102 - pic.twitter.com/S6nYbtGWPt
— Amitabh Bachchan (@SrBachchan) February 26, 2019
Here's what the other stars have posted.
"Salute to the Indian Air Force for their indomitable spirit in keeping our country safe," wrote Sanjay Dutt.
Salute to the #IndianAirForce for their indomitable spirit in keeping our country safe! Let us all pray for their safety. Jai Hind
- Sanjay Dutt (@duttsanjay) February 26, 2019
"Salute to the our armed forces," read Swara Bhasker's tweet.
Salute to the our armed forces.
- Swara Bhasker (@ReallySwara) February 26, 2019
Jai Hind.
In a tweet, Riteish Deshmukh said he's proud of the country.
!!! #IndianArmedForces #Salute ,
— Riteish Deshmukh (@Riteishd) February 26, 2019
"What an explosive morning, as India celebrates," wrote Raveena Tandon.
What an explosive morning ! As india celebrates ! I salute the 12 bravehearts for meting out justice for our Pulwama boys ! Our Neighbours often complain of being victims of terrorism themselves .. they need to thank us . Jai Hind.
- Raveena Tandon (@TandonRaveena) February 26, 2019
Suniel Shetty tweeted a picture of the Indian flag.
JAI HIND!! pic.twitter.com/EFFywzGuRE
- Suniel Shetty (@SunielVShetty) February 26, 2019
"Credible intelligence was received that Jaish-e-Mohammed was attempting another suicide terror attack in various parts of the country and fidayeen jihadis (suicide bombers) were being trained for this purpose," Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale said today.
"India has given proof many times seeking action against Jaish-e-Mohammed and others at terror camps so big, that they can train hundreds of jihadis and terrorists at any given time. But due to Pakistan's inaction, this step was necessary and had to be taken," he said.
Pakistan's response has been to downplay the impact. "Indian aircrafts' intrusion across LOC in Muzaffarabad Sector... was 3-4 miles. Under forced hasty withdrawal aircrafts released payload which had free fall in open area. No infrastructure got hit, no casualties," Major General Asif Ghafoor of the Inter-Services Public Relations tweeted this morning.
In September 2016, after the attack on the Uri base camp, the army had also carried out surgical strikes on seven terrorist launch pads across the LoC.
