While you were sleeping, India launched an airstrike on alleged Islamic terror compounds in neighboring Pakistan:
Indian jets intruded past the LoC and by India's claim they flew past the AJK/KP border – ended up dropping their payload on trees
Pakistan's FM says they entered Pakistani airspace at 2:55 am and were out by 2:58 am pic.twitter.com/ihBiaF5X5V
— omar r quraishi (@omar_quraishi) February 26, 2019
But it’s not clear what exactly happened. To put this in CNN’s apples-bananas language, the apple from Reuters India is that over 300 extremists were killed:
India air strike in Pakistan territory killed 300 militants: government source https://t.co/K3a475Dxfb #airstrike #Balakot pic.twitter.com/nX31SYjBCd
— Reuters India (@ReutersIndia) February 26, 2019
And the bananas report from Reuters Pakistan is that only one villager was wounded:
Pakistani villagers say one person wounded in Indian air strike https://t.co/cOTyYRGKnm #Balakot
— Reuters Afghanistan & Pakistan (@ReutersPakistan) February 26, 2019
Since Reuters India is quoting the Indian government and Reuters Pakistan has a reporter on the ground, we’ll go with the bananas version of events for now:
Reuters, amazingly, has a story datelined "Balakot", the Pakistani village bombed by India. Four craters, one house bombed, one wounded. This is a far cry from Indian "government sources" claiming 200-300 dead in "terrorist training camp". Story continues. https://t.co/sBxqGH91gn
— Stanley Pignal (@spignal) February 26, 2019
But since India and Pakistan have a history of going to war with each other and since both now have nuclear weapons, this is something to watch:
This is notable case of a conventional strike by one nuclear power on another. Others include the 1969 Zhenbao Island crisis between the PRC and the USSR and the 1999 India-Pakistan Kargil War. Neither saw conventional airpower used against a nuclear-armed adversary’s territory.
— Ankit Panda (@nktpnd) February 26, 2019
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Forum strongly rejected Indian claim of targeting an alleged terrorist camp near Balakot and the claim of heavy casualties. Once again Indian government has resorted to a self serving, reckless and fictitious claim. pic.twitter.com/zMQsukHGj9
— Prime Minister's Office, Pakistan (@PakPMO) February 26, 2019
India and Pakistan verified Twitter accounts are fighting over what happened as well:
No complex signalling unless you're a low-double-digit IQ. The NSC held a meeting because #India crossed the red-line and violated #Pakistan's territorial integrity. That's it. https://t.co/3smxz12LI5
— Ali Salman Alvi (@alisalmanalvi) February 26, 2019
Hopefully, things cool off soon:
EU urges 'maximum restraint' from India, Pakistan after air strike#IAFStrike #indianairforce #IAFMirage2000 #iafjets #IndiaStrikesPakistan#airstrike
Catch all the LIVE updates here:https://t.co/BDGvZuyUPa
— Business Standard (@bsindia) February 26, 2019
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