On Tuesday, Indians woke up to the news of air strikes by the Indian Air Force on Jaish-e-Mohammed’s (JeM) biggest terror camp in Balakot. There are two cities with the same name Balakot, and the Indian Government did not officially confirm whether it is in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province (KPK) in Pakistan or in the Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir (Pok).
The Quint has learnt from sources that the camp which was attacked was located 20 km from Balakot town in KPK, Pakistan.
Pakistan’s Punjab police’s dossier on JeM, which was uploaded in its counter-terrorism website, has several details on the attacked camp. After the IAF strike, the website is down.
For all live updates on IAF air strike, click here.
Why Balakot Camp is Crucial
The camp, located 20 km from the Balakot town in KPK, was an important training centre for the JeM and other terror organisations and it had several structures to accommodate new recruits and facilities to train them, according to the dossier.
The above photograph is of the training centre – Markaz Syed Ahmad Shaheed in Balakot. The centre is spread over an area of around 6 acres in the forest of Balakot and can accommodate over 600 people. It also has a firing range, swimming pool and gymnasium, according to the dossier.
The main hall where militants are trained is decorated with flags and banners of JeM.
In this hall, Mufti Abdul Rauf Asghar, brother of Masood Azhar, attended annual passing out parade of militant cadre on 1 April 2018.
The JeM, founded by Maulana Masood Azhar in 2000, has its headquarters located in Markaz Usman-o-Ali in Bahawalpur in Pakistan. The residences of Azhar and his brothers and other relatives are located near Markaz Usman-o-Ali.
In 2015, JeM’s modern complex known as Markaz Subhanallah was constructed in Bahawalpur-Karachi Road, which is being used to indoctrinate youth to participate in so-called ‘Jehad’ against non-Muslims.
The main training centre of JeM in which military training is imparted to militant cadres is located in the forest/hills of Blackout Town of Mansehra district (KPK).
Training Ground of JeM
Military training ground of JeM in Balakot where militants practice their skills.
Above is the vehicle used by Maulana Yusuf Azhar, brother-in-law of Masood Azar, also the head of the training centre in Balakot.
Azhar provided training in ‘fidayeen’ operations and suicide attacks in India.
JeM’s modern complex, Markaz Subhanallah in Bahawalpur became operative in 2015. The huge complex houses more than 600 cadres to whom training to become Mujahideen being imparted.
There is a modern gymnasium and a swimming pool inside the complex.
List of Prominent JeM Operatives
Maulana Yusuf Azhar is wanted by the CBI in the IC-814 hijacking case with a pending Interpol red corner notice against him since 2000.
Mufti Asghar Khan Kashmiri is a resident of Muzaffarabad in Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir and is head of Kashmir operations.
Ibrahim Azhar is the elder brother of Masood Azhar and was the IC-814 hijacker.
Maulana Talha Saif, brother of Masood Azhar, and head of propagation wing.
Mufti Abdul Rauf Asghar, brother of Masood Azhar and head of operations.
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