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| Pak continues to deny access to the Balakot attack site | | |
Early Times Report
JAMMU, Mar 11: Pakistani officials, according to International News Agency, have prevented a group of journalists to "access the Jaish-e-Mohammad Madrasa being used as a terrorist camp" that was targeted in Balakot targeted by Indian Air Force last week.
The Pakistani officials prevented the team from climbing a hill in northeastern Pakistan to the site of the madrasa and a group of surrounding buildings. It was the third attempt of the team in past nine days to visit the site.
The reason cited behind the sealing of the area by Pakistani officials is 'security concerns', while denying Indian government's claim that the terrorist camp was hit by the IAF killing large number of terrorists.
While the officials repeat the Pakistan government's stance that "no damage has been caused by the air strike," the eyewitnesses have claimed to have seen up to "35 bodies being moved out from the area by ambulances in the aftermath of the air strike". They have said that "former Pakistani soldiers, ISI Agents and fidayeens were among those who lost their lives".
"Local authorities reached the site soon after the bombing," one witness reportedly said, adding, "but the area had already been cordoned off by then by the army, who did not even allow police to enter. The army also took away mobile phones from the medical staff on the ambulances."
The Pakistan military's press wing has reportedly called off the visits to the site twice for 'weather and organisational reasons' and an official said no visit would be possible for a few days more due to security issues.
Reuters' team was also told by the villagers that "the madrasa was indeed run by the terror group Jaish-e-Mohammed". A sign with the group's name had previously stood near the site but was later removed, according to a report.
Yet another resident of the area Mohammad Naseem has claimed that "there were madrasas in the area opened during Zia-ul-Haq regime" and added, "there is no madrasa or anything like that here anymore".
In the meantime, the Balakot Tape, which is based on an eye witness and which came in public domain on Monday, has said that there were "263 Jaish commanders and others at the Balakot terror-training camp when the Indian Air Force struck the target" and that "16 commanders, who were left dead, were burnt by the Pakistani Army and thrown into a river". The Balakot Tape has further exposed those who in India, who have been questioning the air strikes and demanding proof that of the terrorists killed during the surgical strike. |
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