Pakistani Journalists Question Govt After IAF’s Strikes Across LoC
Pakistani journalists question the Pakistani government, while news organisations downplay attack in Balakot.
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Multiple Indian Air Force (IAF) jets crossed the Line of Control (LoC) and destroyed terror camps in Pakistan’s Balakot, and Pakistan-Occupied-Kashmir’s Chakothi and Muzaffarabad areas, on 26 February.
Reports claim that there have been between 200-300 casualties following India dropping over 1,000 kilograms of explosives in Balakot, which is believed to be a stronghold of JeM.
Pakistani DG of Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Major General Asif Ghafoor said, “Indian aircrafts’ intrusion across LoC in Muzafarabad Sector within J&K was 3-4 miles. Under forced hasty withdrawal, aircrafts released payload which had free fall in open area.”
Pak Journalists Question Government
Pakistani journalist Salmaan Masood tweeted, “Pakistan security officials say no targets were engaged by the Indian aircrafts.”
Columnist Mohammad Taqi, posed questions to the Pakistani government and as to how the IAF entered “Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province – not disputed territory” and yet the Pakistani Air Force was not “able to shoot down a single one of the intruding planes.”
Pakistani Media Downplay Indian Strike on JeM Camps in Balakot
However, some Pakistani media claimed that the IAF jets scrambled back to the India following Pakistan Air Force’s (PAF) swift response, while others did not make certain any details regarding the attack.
“Indian warplanes violate LoC, drop payload near Balakot: ISPR,” reported The Express Tribune. They also reported that no casualties have been confirmed.
The Daily Jang reported that the Indian Air Force had to withdraw from the Pakistani airspace due to the swift reaction by Pakistan. They added, “no casualties occurred in the incident.”
Geo TV Pakistan, reported a similar narrative to the other Pakistani media outlets and refuted any casualties due to the explosives dropped by the IAF. They quoted the Pakistani DG of Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Major General Asif Ghafoor, who said, “Indian aircraft breach LoC, leave after PAF’s timely response.”
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