Politico honchos across nation acknowledge IAF's bombing

New Delhi: 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."

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.

Makkal Neethi Maiam (MNM) President Kamal Hassan 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.

The strike comes amid heightened tension between India and Pakistan following the February 14 suicide attack by Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad terror group in Kashmir's Pulwama district that killed 40 CRPF soldiers.

Strikes involving several fighter jets of the Indian Air Force successfully destroyed camps belonging to Pakistan-based terror outfits in Balakot in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

Not only this, the Maharashtra Assembly on Tuesday passed a unanimous resolution congratulating the Indian armed forces for carrying out air strikes on terror launch pads in Pakistan.

The resolution was moved by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who lauded the Indian Air Force for its bravery.

"We feel proud of our armed forces which did not allow martyrdom of our jawans to go in vain. We proved our might," he said.

Mumbai is always on high alert and citizens need not panic, he said, adding that political parties all over the country are firmly behind the armed forces.

The resolution was supported by Ajit Pawar (NCP), Mohammed Arif Naseem Khan (Congress), Ganpatrao Deshmukh (PWP), Subhash Sabne (Shiv Sena) and Abu Asim Azmi (Samajwadi Party).

Ajit Pawar said Indians will not tolerate any attack on its people.

"We need to set aside political differences on this issue," he said.

Naseem Khan said, "Indira Gandhi (former prime minister) divided Pakistan in two parts and now time has come for another division."

Abu Azmi said the military strike has eased the pain and anger of Indians since the February 14 Pulwama terror attack on CRPF personnel.

"Such strikes should continue till Pakistan doesn't stop anti-India activities," he said.

Sabne said after hearing the news of the military action, every Indian is feeling he has a "56-inch chest".