Pakistani journalists reject Indian claims

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 26 February 2019

Pakistani journalists took to social media to challenge Indian claims regarding an alleged airstrike. Analysts and presenters highlighted the need for restraint amidst rising tensions.

Summary

ISLAMABAD - Journalists took to Twitter on Tuesday to comment on the LoC violation by Indian fighter jets, with most of them rejecting or making fun of Indian claims of striking the alleged terror camps.

Analyst Imtiaz Gul termed the Indian claim a stunning script of a Bollywood flick. “What a claim: 12 fighter aircraft, dropped a mere 1000 kg bombs, and before heading back from #Balakot they also counted 300 dead bodies in the dark of early morning. Quite a stunning script of a Bollywood film.”

What a claim: 12 fighter aircraft, dropped a mere 1000 kg bombs, and before heading back from #Balakot they also counted 300 dead bodies in the dark of early morning. Quite a stunning script of a Bollywood film

— Imtiaz Gul (@vogul1960) February 26, 2019

Samaa TV presenter Amber Rahim Shamsi warned Indian journalist Barkha Dutt not to celebrate any act of armed clash. “War and conflict is not something to be celebrated. Punishment for an allegation that was never proved is not something to be celebrated. Violating airspace is not something to be celebrated. Escalation is not something to be celebrated.”

War and conflict is not something to be celebrated. Punishment for an allegation that was never proved is not something to be celebrated. Violating airspace is not something to be celebrated. Escalation is not something to be celebrated. https://t.co/xdqFZo72Xj

— Amber Rahim Shamsi (@AmberRShamsi) February 26, 2019

Talat Hussain, formerly of Geo TV asked for answers from the PTI government. “Indians claiming the raid took place at 3:30 in the morning. They are saying 1000 kg payload. Did anyone wake up the prime minister? Was there a top-level policy huddle? Will we respond tit for tat or just fire tweets?”

In his effort to give the exact place of the attack, Talat said: “Reports suggest Indian intruders used the narrow corridor of the Neelam Valley, crossed Athmuqam, dropped payload in or around Battarasi and returned. 4 airmiles=4.60 roadmiles=7.40 kms (roughly). Thats close to Balakot.”

Veteran journalist Nusrat Javeed asked Prime Minister Imran Khan to visit the National Assembly and update the nation on the situation. “A humble suggestion: Prime Minister Imran Khan should come to the National Assembly today and tell what exactly had happened. Best and only potent option to handle the flood of spins and counter spins on social media.”

ARY TV journalist Arshad Sharif praised the quick response to the LoC violation. “Salute to brave pilots and airmen of #PAF who chased out intruding #IAF . #Indian Air Force dropped fuel tanks while escaping and projected it as #FakeSurgicalStrike2 . #Pakistanis awaiting #Pakistan’s response to provocative act of war by #India as promised by #PMIK.”

Editor Investigations at The News, Ansar Abbasi asked why the intruding Indian aircraft were not shot down. “Why didn’t we shoot down the intruding Indian fighter jets?”

However, former Dawn Editor Abbas Nasir advised restraining. “Restraint not retaliation. No need to dominate escalation ladder. Expose Indian adventurism for what it was. Failed attempt at machismo.”

Restraint not retaliation. No need to dominate escalation ladder. Expose Indian adventurism for what it was. Failed attempt at machismo.

— Abbas Nasir (@abbasnasir59) February 26, 2019

Replying to an Indian journalist claim of 400-600 causalities, Geo News presenter Hamid Mir asked for evidence. “Estimate of 600/640 casualties? can you share any evidence?”

Dawn columnist Zahid Hussain also looked for answers. “Its act of aggression nevertheless. Waiting for Pakistan's response beyond Tweet. Indian aircraft violate LoC, scramble back after PAF's timely response: ISPR.”

The Newsweek Pakistan maintained that the truth about the alleged strike lies somewhere between the claims on both sides of the border. “The reality of what happened in last night's cross-border strike, where exactly it happened and how it happened likely lies somewhere in between the versions being peddled by #Pakistan and #India…”

There were also tweets about the place where Indian aircraft dropped their payload. Responding to Burkha Dutt’s tweet celebrating the alleged strike, analyst Nasim Zehra maintained: “Is this ‘brand new red line...” real ? Unlikely. There is no confirmation and no evidence of this .... Balakot is also a place near the LOC . @BDUTT”.  Photo: AP

KEY POINTS:

• Journalists dismissed Indian claims of airstrikes as exaggerated.
• Imtiaz Gul compared the situation to a Bollywood film script.
• Calls for restraint were echoed by various media personalities.
• Questions were raised regarding the government's response to the alleged aggression.
• Verification of casualty claims sparked skepticism among Pakistani journalists.