Were 300 terrorists killed in the IAF air strikes in Balakot?
Here’s what IAF has to say.
New Delhi: As soon as the news of IAF’s airstrike on Jaish’s training camps across the border in Balakot went viral, media channels hurried and immediately concluded that over 300 terrorists were killed in the air strikes.
Various media channels citing their respective ‘sources’ went on to claim several figures and number claiming it to be the number of terrorists and trainees who were killed in the air strikes.
It started with 200 and went on up to 400 as hours passed by after the strikes. Many channels also reported that IAF ‘eliminated’ Maulana Yousuf Azhar, who is the brother-in-law of Masood Azhar, chief of terror group Jaish-e-Mohammed.
No official data or military sources were quoted all this while by any news channel.
However, according to a report published in News Laundry on Thursday, during the joint press conference of Indian Armed Forces, which had Army’s Major General Surindar Singh Mehal, Navy’s Rear Admiral Dalbir Singh Gujral and Air Vice Marshal RGK Kapoor of IAF, the officials refused to confirm the exact number of terrorists killed in the strikes.
According to the report, Ajit Dubey of ANI enquired about the number of terrorists killed. To which RGK Kapoor termed it ‘premature’ to give an exact figure.
“There is fairly credible evidence with us which proves that there was damage to the camps. The weapons hit the intended target and they caused the damage that was intended. However, it will be premature to say what is the number of causalities we have been able to inflict on those camps and what is the number of death” RGK Kapoor was quoted as saying.
This statement from the official ‘source’ has now raised questioned about the credibility of ‘sources’ of news channels and has also pitched the question of ‘where did the figure of 300-400 came from’?
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Indian deputy chief of mission meets lawmakers; India-US ties discussed
Washington, Mar 26 (PTI): India’s Deputy Chief of Mission in the US Namgya Khampa met Congresswoman Sarah Elfreth to discuss further strengthening collaboration in defence, trade and investment.
Khampa met the Democrat Congresswoman from Maryland, who is a member of the House Armed Services Committee, here on Wednesday.
“They discussed recent global developments and ways to further strengthen India-US collaboration in defence, trade & investment, and people-to-people ties,” the Indian Embassy here said in a post on X.
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On Tuesday, the deputy chief of mission met Congresswoman Suzan DelBene from Washington state and thanked her for her support to the India-US partnership.
“They discussed issues of bilateral interest -- trade, technology, defence partnership, and recognised the contributions of the Indian-American community in the relationship,” the Embassy said.
