Political leaders across the country laud IAF pilots for crossing LoC

Congress President Rahul Gandhi and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday praised the pilots of the Indian Air Force (IAF) following reports that they crossed the Line of Control (LoC) with their fighter jets and returned after dropping a payload in Pakistan.

"I salute the pilots of the IAF," Gandhi tweeted.

Kejriwal in a tweet said: "I salute the bravery of Indian Air Force pilots who have made us proud by striking terror targets in Pakistan."

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik Tuesday praised the Indian Air Force (IAF) over its successful air strike inside Pakistan.

"Salute the #IndianAirForce for pre-dawn air strike on terror camps in defence of our Nation. #JaiHind," Patnaik tweeted.

"I salute our Indian Air Force for their attack on terrorist camps inside Pakistan. The country is proud of you (pilots of IAF)," Puducherry Chief Minister V Narayanasamy said in his twitter handle

We congratulate our military for such a powerful act of bravery..people trust Modiji. The armed forces carried out a very strong and necessary step for the defence of our country...it was an act of 'maha parakram' (great valour). The entire nation stands behind the armed forces," HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar said.

"We've entered a whole new paradigm with the Balakote air strike. The post Uri strike was to avenge our losses, Balakote was a 'preemptive strike to prevent an imminent JeM attack'. Totally new ballgame," National Conference leader Omar Abdullah tweeted.

"A number of firsts from Balakote, the two most obvious are the first time air power has been used to strike inside Pakistan during peace times (last time in 1971 was during war) & first time visible, acknowledged use of force to preempt a perceived terror strike," Abdullah added.

"Post pre-dawn strikes carried out by IAF, conflicting reports coming in. Official communique by FS claims that terror training camps were bombed while Pak denied this & said that the planes made a hasty retreat after being spotted. Hope objective of both sides has been served," PDP president Mehbooba Mufti said in a tweet.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee also hailed the Indian Air Force (IAF) for carrying out air strikes in Pakistan.

"IAF also means India's Amazing Fighters. Jai Hind," Banerjee tweeted.

Congress leader and Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh hailed it as a great job by the Indian Air Force.

"The IAF strikes have sent the much needed signal to Pakistan and the terrorists it's harbouring - don't think you can get away with acts like the Pulwama Attack. Bravo to the IAF men and my full support for the action," he said.

Makkal Neethi Maiam (MNM) President Kamal Hassan on Tuesday welcomed air strikes carried out by the Indian Air Force on terror launch pads in Pakistan, and 'saluted' the valour of the "heroes."

The country was "proud of its heroes," he said in a tweet.

"Our 12 (apparently fighter jets) return safely home after wreaking havoc on terrorist camps in Pakistan. India is proud of its heroes. I salute their valour," he said.

Pakistan claimed on Tuesday that IAF fighter jets crossed the LoC and returned after the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) scrambled war planes.

Director General Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Asif Ghafoor in a tweet confirmed that the jets dropped in the payload near Balakot in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.