IAF Air Strike: Vijay Gokhale briefed the parliamentary panel on India-Pakistan relations today (File)
Highlights
- Centre must tell other nations India attacked terror camp: Panel
- Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale briefed the members of the panel
- He did not comment on the evidence related to the air strike
The Parliamentary Standing Committee has told the External Affairs Ministry to "emphatically" assert before the international community that the Indian Air Force (IAF) crossed the border on February 26 not to attack Pakistan but terror camps on its territory, news agency IANS reported. The suggestion came during a briefing on India-Pakistan relations by Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale to the panel headed by Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on Friday.
According to the news agency, Mr Gokhale briefed members of the parliamentary panel on the events that had occurred since the IAF carried out the attack on the Balakot terror camp -- resulting in retaliation from Pakistan the following day. All the panel members were unanimous in the view that the IAF had pulled off a "heroic job".
Mr Gokhale did not comment on evidence related to the air strike. Air Vice-Marshal RGK Kapoor had said yesterday that although the jets hit the intended targets, it would be "premature" to assess the extent of casualties or damage caused.
The Foreign Secretary also told the panel that no third-party mediation had taken place in arranging for captured Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman's return. The pilot was released around 9.20 pm.
(With inputs from IANS)