The Indian government on Tuesday said the IAF had carried out a "non-military pre-emptive" surgical strike.

Briefing the media, India's foreign secretary Vijay Gokhale said the strike was aimed at Jaish-e-Mohammad terror camps.

"In an intelligence led operation in the early hours of today, India struck the biggest training camp of JeM in Balakot. In this operation, a very large number of JeM terrorists, trainers, senior commanders and groups of jihadis who were being trained for fidayeen action were eliminated. This facility at Balakot was headed by MAULANA YOUSUF AZHAR (alias USTAD GHOURI), the brother-in-law of MASOOD AZHAR, Chief of JeM," the foreign secretary said.

Reports said 1,000 kg bombs were dropped on Jaish bases across the LoC by multiple jets, including the IAF’s Mirage 2000.

The Pulwama attack was carried out by Pakistan-based militant organisation, Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM).

Country in safe hands: Modi

The surgical strike has been conducted at a time when the nation is gearing up for the parliamentary polls.

Hours after the Indian government confirmed that a surgical strike was conducted by the Air Force to target terror camp across the Line of Control, Prime Minister Narendra Modi  assured that the country was in 'safe hands'.

"I want to assure you all that the country is in safe hands," Modi said in a rally in Rajasthan.

"I pledge on this soil, I will not let the country die, I will not let the country stop, I will not let the country bend," he said.

Imran Khan asks Army, people to remain prepared:

Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan on Tuesday asked his armed forces and people to remain prepared for all eventualities.

Hours after the surgical strike by India, Khan  chaired a special meeting of the National Security Committee.

Rejecting India's claims of surgical strike, Khan's party PTI said on Twitter, "Once again Indian government has resorted to a self serving, reckless and fictitious claim."

Khan has also decided to engage with global leadership to "expose irresponsible Indian policy in the region".

The PTI said: "...PM appreciated timely and effective response of PAF to repulse Indian attempt without any loss of life or property."

Khan and his committee also alleged that India claimed the surgical strike to create an election environment in the country. India is heading towards the General Elections in slightly more than a month's time.

Khan's strong words came days after he asked India to give peace a chance.

However after the Pulwama attack, the Pakistani Prime Minister had warned India of retaliation if war is declared against his country.

India blamed Pakistan for Pulwama

The latest strike by the IAF occurred just two weeks after the Pulwama terror attack in Kashmir.

India after the attack by a suicide bomber of Jaish-e-Mohammad said: "This heinous and despicable act has been perpetrated by Jaish-e-Mohammed, a Pakistan-based and supported terrorist organisation proscribed by the United Nations and other countries. This terror group is led by the international terrorist Masood Azhar, who has been given full freedom by Government of Pakistan to operate and expand his terror infrastructure in territories under the control of Pakistan and to carry out attacks in India and elsewhere with impunity."