Oppn chorus grows for proof of air strike in Pak

Barbs fly over efficacy of aerial bombing

NEW DELHI: Claims and counterclaims by the government and the Opposition sent political temperatures soaring on Monday as the Congress party asked why the government was not providing details of the casualties inflicted in the air strikes on a Jaish-e-mohammed camp in Pakistan last week, while the government accused the Congress party of echoing Pakistan’s line. PM Narendra Modi implicitly warned Pakistan about supporting terror groups that target India.

All of this came even as IAF chief BS Dhanoa steered clear of a question on the number of casualties, the core of the controversy. Following the air strike on February 26, Indian intelligence officials mentioned numbers in the range of 300 to 350 to media (including HT). The numbers weren’t official estimates and the officials were not on record.

Since then, questions have swirled about the actual number amid efforts by Pakistan to downplay the impact of the Indian air strike. On Sunday, BJP president Amit Shah said that 250 terrorists were killed in the air strike.

The government has, however, not released any evidence of the casualties as demanded by the Opposition. Hours before Dhanoa’s comments, Congress leader P Chidambaram, said on Twitter: “IAF Vice Air Marshal declined to comment on casualties. The MEA statement said there were no civilian or military casualties. So, who put out the number of casualties at 300-350?”