New Delhi: A United States-based activist from Gilgit has claimed that more than 200 militants of the Jaish-e-Mohammed terror group were killed in Indian Air Force air strikes in the Balakot region of Pakistan on February 26, while citing reports of the local Urdu media in the neighbouring country.
According to an ANI report which quoted the US-based activist Senge Hasnan Sering claiming that a military officer of Pakistan has admitted to martyrdom of more than 200 militants after the Indian strike on Balakot.
“Pakistan military officer admits to martyrdom of more than 200 militants Indian strike on Balakot. Calls the terrorist Mujahid who receive special favours/sustenance from Allah as they fight to support Pak government (against enemies). Vows to support families,” Senge Hasnan Sering, the activist from Gilgit, tweeted.
“I am not sure how authentic this video is but Pakistan is definitely hiding something very important that has happened in Balakot. International, as well as local media, have not been allowed to inspect the site and assess the damage there. Pakistan continues to claim that the strike happened and it damaged the forest area and some farmland. But then there’s no reason for Pakistan to cordon off the area for such a long time and not allow international media to have and independent opinion on the situation there,” Sering was quoted as saying to ANI.
“At the same time, the Jaish-e-Mohammed claims that its Madrassa was there. At the same time, there have been reports in the Urdu media of some dead bodies being transported from Balakot to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and tribal areas a few days or the next day after the attack happened. So there is enough evidence where one could speculate with confidence that the Balakot strike by Indian Air Force was successful and Pakistan has not been able to prove otherwise since it has not enabled the international media or the national media to visit the site,” the activist said.
It may be noted that following the deadly February 14 Pulwama terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir, India launched a pre-emptive anti-terror air strikes on terror camps in Balakot area of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in Pakistan.
While India had claimed that ‘a large number of terrorists’ were eliminated during the air strikes, Pakistan, however has been in denial of the casualties.
(With ANI Inputs)