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Balakot air strike: Pakistan shows off disputed site on eve of India election | |
(32 minutes later) | |
The authorities in Pakistan have allowed foreign media and defence attachés to visit the site of a disputed Indian air strike in February. | The authorities in Pakistan have allowed foreign media and defence attachés to visit the site of a disputed Indian air strike in February. |
They were given access to an Islamic school in Balakot, where Indian media say militants were killed in retaliation for an attack in Kashmir. | They were given access to an Islamic school in Balakot, where Indian media say militants were killed in retaliation for an attack in Kashmir. |
The large building appeared to be fully intact and the Pakistani army denied it had been used as a terror camp. | The large building appeared to be fully intact and the Pakistani army denied it had been used as a terror camp. |
The visit to the school was held on the eve of a general election in India. | The visit to the school was held on the eve of a general election in India. |
Pakistan and India have been engaged in an information war over the Balakot site, where Pakistan says the bombs on 26 February landed in an empty area and hurt no-one. | Pakistan and India have been engaged in an information war over the Balakot site, where Pakistan says the bombs on 26 February landed in an empty area and hurt no-one. |
India insists it killed a large number of Jaish-e-Mohamed group militants and destroyed their camp in retaliation for a suicide attack two weeks earlier in Indian-administered Kashmir, which killed 40 paramilitary police troopers. | India insists it killed a large number of Jaish-e-Mohamed group militants and destroyed their camp in retaliation for a suicide attack two weeks earlier in Indian-administered Kashmir, which killed 40 paramilitary police troopers. |
That attack was the deadliest against Indian forces in Kashmir in decades and raised fears of a new war between India and Pakistan, which are both nuclear powers. | That attack was the deadliest against Indian forces in Kashmir in decades and raised fears of a new war between India and Pakistan, which are both nuclear powers. |
What were the media shown on Wednesday? | What were the media shown on Wednesday? |
Foreign journalists and diplomats were taken by the Pakistani army on the visit to Balakot in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa state. | Foreign journalists and diplomats were taken by the Pakistani army on the visit to Balakot in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa state. |
They were shown a medium-sized crater which the army said had been made by an Indian air force bomb. | They were shown a medium-sized crater which the army said had been made by an Indian air force bomb. |
A single house had been slightly damaged by the blast and a man had been injured, the BBC's Usman Zahid reports. | A single house had been slightly damaged by the blast and a man had been injured, the BBC's Usman Zahid reports. |
The visitors also saw some fallen trees. | The visitors also saw some fallen trees. |
They were then taken to the Taleem ul Quran madrassa, the first such visit by foreign media. | They were then taken to the Taleem ul Quran madrassa, the first such visit by foreign media. |
The large hilltop building is said to have capacity for 2,500 children. | The large hilltop building is said to have capacity for 2,500 children. |
Pakistani army spokesman Maj-Gen Asif Ghafoor insisted the madrassa did "no harm" and that Indian allegations that it was a terror training camp had "no truth". | Pakistani army spokesman Maj-Gen Asif Ghafoor insisted the madrassa did "no harm" and that Indian allegations that it was a terror training camp had "no truth". |
Some 150-200 children could be seen reciting the Koran in a mosque at the school. | Some 150-200 children could be seen reciting the Koran in a mosque at the school. |
However, a teacher and a student interviewed by the BBC said they were all local people and that the madrassa had been shut since the Indian attack. | However, a teacher and a student interviewed by the BBC said they were all local people and that the madrassa had been shut since the Indian attack. |
While the media were allowed to take interviews they were told to keep them short and it was clear that the tour was being restricted. | While the media were allowed to take interviews they were told to keep them short and it was clear that the tour was being restricted. |
What does India say? | What does India say? |
Contacted by the BBC, India's external affairs ministry said it stood by its statement last month that the "counter-terrorism strike of 26 February" had "achieved the intended objective". | Contacted by the BBC, India's external affairs ministry said it stood by its statement last month that the "counter-terrorism strike of 26 February" had "achieved the intended objective". |
"The fact that media was taken on a conducted tour to the site only after a month and a half after the incident speaks for itself," a ministry official added on Wednesday. | "The fact that media was taken on a conducted tour to the site only after a month and a half after the incident speaks for itself," a ministry official added on Wednesday. |
When journalists from Al Jazeera visited the area - but not the madrassa - in February, they saw a sign for the school which listed Jaish-e-Mohamed founder Masood Azhar as its "leader". | When journalists from Al Jazeera visited the area - but not the madrassa - in February, they saw a sign for the school which listed Jaish-e-Mohamed founder Masood Azhar as its "leader". |
The Balakot air strike has played a major role in the election campaign of Indian Prime Minster Narendra Modi who has called on first-time voters to dedicate their ballots to the pilots involved, India Today reports. | The Balakot air strike has played a major role in the election campaign of Indian Prime Minster Narendra Modi who has called on first-time voters to dedicate their ballots to the pilots involved, India Today reports. |
Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan told the BBC this week that peace with India over Kashmir would be "tremendous" for the wider region. | Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan told the BBC this week that peace with India over Kashmir would be "tremendous" for the wider region. |
Timeline of India-Pakistan tensions | Timeline of India-Pakistan tensions |
October 1947: First war between India and Pakistan over Kashmir just two months after they become independent nations. | October 1947: First war between India and Pakistan over Kashmir just two months after they become independent nations. |
August 1965: The neighbours fight another brief war over Kashmir. | August 1965: The neighbours fight another brief war over Kashmir. |
December 1971: India supports East Pakistan's bid to become independent. The Indian air force conducts bombing raids inside Pakistan. The war ends with the creation of Bangladesh. | December 1971: India supports East Pakistan's bid to become independent. The Indian air force conducts bombing raids inside Pakistan. The war ends with the creation of Bangladesh. |
May 1999: Pakistani soldiers and militants occupy Indian military posts in Kargil mountains. India launches air and ground strikes and the intruders are pushed back. | May 1999: Pakistani soldiers and militants occupy Indian military posts in Kargil mountains. India launches air and ground strikes and the intruders are pushed back. |
October 2001: A devastating attack on the state assembly in Indian-administered Kashmir kills 38. Two months later, an attack on the Indian parliament in Delhi leaves 14 dead. | October 2001: A devastating attack on the state assembly in Indian-administered Kashmir kills 38. Two months later, an attack on the Indian parliament in Delhi leaves 14 dead. |
November 2008: Co-ordinated attacks on Mumbai's main railway station, luxury hotels and a Jewish cultural centre kill 166 people. India blames Pakistan-based group Lashkar-e-Taiba. | November 2008: Co-ordinated attacks on Mumbai's main railway station, luxury hotels and a Jewish cultural centre kill 166 people. India blames Pakistan-based group Lashkar-e-Taiba. |
January 2016: Four-day attack on Indian air base in Pathankot leaves seven Indian soldiers and six militants dead. | January 2016: Four-day attack on Indian air base in Pathankot leaves seven Indian soldiers and six militants dead. |
18 September 2016: Attack on army base in Uri in Indian-administered Kashmir kills 19 soldiers. | 18 September 2016: Attack on army base in Uri in Indian-administered Kashmir kills 19 soldiers. |
30 September 2016: India says it carried "surgical strikes" on militants in Pakistani Kashmir. Islamabad denies strikes took place. | 30 September 2016: India says it carried "surgical strikes" on militants in Pakistani Kashmir. Islamabad denies strikes took place. |
14 February 2019: Pulwama suicide bombing kills at least 40 Indian police troopers in Indian-administered Kashmir, India retaliates with air strike two weeks later | 14 February 2019: Pulwama suicide bombing kills at least 40 Indian police troopers in Indian-administered Kashmir, India retaliates with air strike two weeks later |
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