Pakistani Journalists Question Govt After IAF’s Strikes Across LoC

Pakistani journalists question the Pakistani government, while news organisations downplay attack in Balakot.

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.

Indian aircrafts’ intrusion across LOC in Muzafarabad Sector within AJ&K was 3-4 miles.Under forced hasty withdrawal aircrafts released payload which had free fall in open area. No infrastructure got hit, no casualties. Technical details and other important information to follow.

— Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor (@OfficialDGISPR) February 26, 2019

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

Pakistan security officials say no targets were engaged by the Indian aircrafts. The speed with which they entered and left Pak airspace, no target could be engaged. #Pakistan #India

— Salman Masood (@salmanmasood) February 26, 2019

Pakistani journalist Salmaan Masood tweeted, “Pakistan security officials say no targets were engaged by the Indian aircrafts.”

Key points here:
- Pak army spokesman concedes Indians came clear into Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province — not disputed territory
- he concedes that the Indians bombed us (albeit with inaccuracy)
- we weren’t able to shoot down a single one of the intruding planes#Balakot #Pulwama https://t.co/JuZJHc6CEn

— Mohammad Taqi (@mazdaki) February 26, 2019

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.”

Not immediately clear if @OfficialDGISPR is referring to Balakot, town in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province in #Pakistan about 30 miles from the Line of Control, or de facto border between the two countries, or another small town called Balakot in Pakistan-administered #Kashmir. #India https://t.co/as2IBAD6c7

— Mehreen Zahra-Malik (@mehreenzahra) February 26, 2019

If true, one nuclear-armed country attacked another while we all slept this morning. #Pakistan #India https://t.co/9d7qaqasfc

— Mehreen Zahra-Malik (@mehreenzahra) February 26, 2019

Both Pakistan & India should arrest the present armed escalation before it becomes irreversible. Extremists have attacked the positive atmosphere between the 2 countries after agreement on Kartarpura Corridor. The states need to take the initiative back from “non state actors”.

— Afrasiab Khattak (@a_siab) February 26, 2019

I'd again say let's wait for more details from Govt/Mil. Confusion over which Balakot is this and many other Qs. But delay of info not a good strategy at this time keeping in mind what India has done and what their media is doing. https://t.co/dm4886soxp

— Gharidah Farooqi (@GFarooqi) February 26, 2019

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.”