Pakistan/South Asia Khabrein (news)

Was browsing FB....saw this post of my friend

Black Hawk Down - You saw the movie. Here is the reality. A page from UN mission book Somalia.

Diana wanted to marry and live in Pakistan, claims Jemima

By Entertainment DeskPublished: February 2, 2019

Years after her passing, late Princess of Wales, Diana, has been in the headlines for both right and wrong reasons. Be it her lavish Royal wedding to Prince Charles, her struggles settling into the British monarchs, or how she longed to break free from the quintessential royal norms.

However, what the world talked about most was her crumbling marriage that inevitably resulted in her speculated affair with Pakistani doctor, Hasnat Khan. The Princess wanted to marry him and was ready to leave Britain, according to her close friend and Prime Minister Imran Khan’s former wife, Jemima Goldsmith.

In a 2013 interview with Vanity Fair, titled “The Grandmother Prince George Never Knew”, Jemima spilled beans on how Diana was head over heels for Hasnat, a heart surgeon in the UK.

Contrary to her other ‘affairs’, the one with Hasnat wasn’t much publicised. Jemima told the magazine, “Diana was madly in love with Hasnat Khan and wanted to marry him, even if that meant living in Pakistan, and that’s one of the reasons why we became friends.”

She went on, “She wanted to know how hard it had been for me to adapt to life in Pakistan.” Diana turned to Jemima for advice in reference to the latter’s own marriage with a Pakistani man, which made her move to Pakistan.

According to Jemima, Diana would often consult her about living in Pakistan when she paid visits to the country. The PM’s ex-wife also stated that Diana visited her twice in Pakistan.

“Diana went to Pakistan to help raise funds for Imran’s hospital, but both times she also went to meet his family secretly to discuss the possibility of marriage to Hasnat.”

Sarah Ellison, Vanity Fair’s contributing editor claimed, “Princess Diana was reportedly in a relationship with Hasnat Khan from 1995 to 1997. Diana and Hasnat wanted to get married but the latter’s mother never gave approval. The princess had told two of her friends that she wanted a daughter with him.”

Friends tell Ellison that Diana made a point to get to know Hasnat’s family, specifically seeking the approval of his mother, Naheed.

“For a son to marry an English girl is every conservative Pashtun mother’s worst nightmare,” Jemima told Ellison. “You send your son to be educated in England and he comes back with an English bride. It’s something they dread.”

But according to Ellison, Hasnat’s decision to not marry Diana may have been the “greatest” gift to the princess.

Ellison spoke to some of Diana’s friends who insisted that she had broken off the relationship out of frustration that Hasnat wasn’t agreeing to marry her, or even make their relationship public. Jemima added, “He hated the thought of being in the glare of publicity for the rest of his life.”

“Everybody sells me out,” Diana told a friend the summer of her death, stated Ellison. “Hasnat is the one person who will never sell me out.”

As her love affair with the doctor ended, Diana began a new relationship with Dodi Al Fayed. Diana and Dodi, the son of Egyptian billionaire Mohamed Al-Fayed, are said to have started their relationship soon after in the French Riviera.

The Princess’ divorce from Princes Charles was finalised in 1996. Soon after vacationing together, Diana and Dodi died in a high-speed car crash on August 31. She was just 36 while Dodi was 42.

https://tribune.com.pk/story/1902230/4-diana-wanted-marry-live-pakistan-claims-jemima/

Interesting. isn't it? Article doesn't have picture of Hasnat Ahmad Khan, a British Pakistani heart and lung surgeon, here it is then

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Pakistani teacher shortlisted for 'Most Dedicated Teacher' award

By News DeskPublished: January 26, 2019

Saya, who currently teaches at the Cordoba School in Karachi, was among the list of six teachers from across the world. PHOTO: FACEBOOK

A Pakistani teacher, Ahmed Saya, has been shortlisted for the Most Dedicated Teacher award, a competition being conducted by the Cambridge University Press.

Saya, who currently teaches A-Level grade students at a private school in Karachi, is one of the six teachers from across the world who are shortlisted for the award.

It was a tough decision for the judges but they have now decided on the six finalists for the Dedicated Teacher Awards 2019, Cambridge announced in a tweet.

Voting for the award will remain open till January 27, 2019, and the “the lucky winner will win a trip to Cambridge, UK, as well as CPD opportunities for their school”.

“He’ll always be ready to spare his weekends whenever a student needs his help, be it academically or anything personal. I have seen him when CAIEs approach, he spends sleepless nights, conducting extra classes, catering each and every student’s problem so that each one excels. I have never seen someone who checks your homework everyday in a class of 100 students just to ensure that each and everyone is on track. He actually deserves this for working so hard to ensure that his students are good humans,” says the teachers profile on the website.

Others nominees for the award include;

Abhinandan Bhattacharya, JBCN International School: Oshiwara, India
Anthony Chelliah, Gateway College, Sri Lanka
Candice Green, St Augustine’s College, Australia
Jimrey Dapin, University of San Jose-Recoletos, Philippines
Sharon Kong Foong, Sunway College, Malaysia
According to the Cambridge University Press website, “From October-December 2018, we invited students, teachers or anyone with an inspiring teacher story to share with us so we could say thank you together.”

“This year, we’ll be showcasing amazing teachers and expressing our appreciation inside our new books.”

The six finalists were chosen by a panel of educational experts, the six winning finalists will win a host of prizes, plus a promotion from Cambridge University Press for themselves and their school.

https://tribune.com.pk/story/1897179/1-pakistani-teacher-shortlisted-dedicated-teacher-award/

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PM Imran Orders Removal of Discriminatory Sign Boards at Social Clubs in Islamabad

Posted 5 days ago by Raza Rizvi

In an unprecedented move, Prime Minister Imran Khan has ordered the removal of all discriminatory sign-boards and notices from social clubs and other public places that restrict the free movement of domestic servants.

The premier passed the order while chairing a high-level meeting regarding the GSP Plus status of Pakistan. The order will not only end the class-discrimination in such places but will also encourage people to finally break the shackles of our colonial past.

The issue had first emerged in 2017 when a picture of the sign-board at Islamabad Club reading “maids and ayas are not allowed beyond this point” surfaced on social media.

Several social clubs in Islamabad which count among its members’ senior government bureaucrats, politicians and diplomats barred the entry of maids and helpers beyond a certain point.

PM Khan also directed the ministry of Human Rights to take measures to ensure complete elimination of bonded labor from all parts of the country.

The premier ordered the Bureau of Statistics to conduct a survey and collect data about Child labor and subsequently formulate a comprehensive strategy to provide basic facilities and proper education to such children.

The meeting was attended by Minister for Human Rights Dr. Shireen Mazari, Information Minister Chaudhry Fawad Hussain, and Minister of State for Interior Mr. Shehryar Afridi.

Advisor to PM on Commerce Mr. Abdul Razaq Dawood, Attorney General Mr. Anwar Mansoor Khan including other senior officials were also present.

Via: The News

https://propakistani.pk/2019/01/29/pm-imran-orders-removal-of-discriminatory-sign-boards-at-social-clubs-in-islamabad/?fbclid=IwAR1jT3ltvI1rk7Tc6GBPzE3VHAPouXJdkVEtVug66DVcXEFmle5mIIfK2OQ

Some comments below article

Good decision, it takes courage to make one like this, especially in Islamabad, which is known for culture of segregation (Financial status, Job grades, Sectors they reside in and so on).

My dearest grandmother (Dadi) was born in 1896. She would tell me how the British in India put signs on their social clubs, « DOGS AND INDIANS NOT ALLOWED

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Leopard cub found in passenger's luggage at Indian airport

The leopard cub was hidden in a plastic grocery basket

An air passenger who arrived in India from Thailand has been detained at the airport after customs officers found a month-old leopard cub in his luggage.

Suspicions were raised when officials heard noises coming from his bag, which was found to contain the 2.2lb (1kg) cub hidden in a plastic grocery basket.

The man had arrived at Chennai airport on Saturday on a flight from Bangkok.

Authorities are investigating whether the suspect is part of an international smuggling ring, officials told AFP.

The 45-year-old, who has not yet been officially named, was said to have been "evasive in his replies" when questioned about his luggage by customs officers.

Airport officials said the cub looked "weak"

"The animal was in a state of shock and was making trill sounds, and appeared to be weak," airport officials said.

Footage captured at the airport showed officials bottle-feeding the leopard cub milk.

Following an assessment by veterinarians, the tiny cat was later taken to the Arignar Anna Zoological Park in Chennai, where it will be cared for, India's NDTV reported.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-47103009

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US fake university: India protests after students arrested

India has made a diplomatic protest to the US after 129 Indian students were arrested for enrolling in a fake university.

The University of Farmington, advertised as based in Michigan state, was run by undercover agents from the Department of Homeland Security to expose "pay-to-stay" immigration fraud.

Prosecutors say those who enrolled knew that the facility would be illegal.

However, Indian officials say the students may have been duped.

On Saturday, the Indian ministry of external affairs (MEA) issued a "demarche" to the US embassy in Delhi, expressing concern over the arrests and demanding consular access to those detained.

"Our concern over the dignity and wellbeing of the detained students and the need for immediate consular access for Indian officials to the detainees was reiterated," the ministry said.

It said the students could have been tricked into enrolling and should be treated differently to any recruiters who may have duped them.

"We have urged the US side to share full details and regular updates of the students with the government, to release them from detention at the earliest and not to resort to deportation against their will," MEA added.

Meanwhile a telephone hotline for worried relatives of those being held has been set up at the Indian embassy in Washington, the Times of India reported.

The US embassy in Delhi confirmed it had received the demarche but made no further statement.

It is not the first time US authorities have run such an operation. In 2016, 21 people were arrested after immigration agents set up the fake University of Northern New Jersey. Most of the foreign nationals involved in that scheme came from China and India.

In the latest sting, a website for the University of Farmington showed pictures of students in classes and libraries or relaxing around a grassy campus.

It advertised tuition for undergraduates at $8,500 (£6,500) a year and $11,000 a year for graduate students.

It also had a fake Facebook page with a calendar of events.

But court papers released last week showed that the employees of the University of Farmington were undercover agents for the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency (ICE).

The "campus" was an office at a business park in a Detroit suburb.

The fake facility was set up in 2015 to try to catch foreign nationals who had initially travelled to the US on student visas and wanted to stay in the country, US media reported.

The indictment, filed in the District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, said the students knew the scheme was illegal.

"The university was being used by foreign citizens as a 'pay to stay' scheme," prosecutors said.

According to the Detroit News, many of those arrested now face deportation. Eight who allegedly acted as recruiters face federal conspiracy charges for helping at least 600 foreign nationals stay illegally, it added.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-47106199

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Mr. Gandhi, Indian Freedom Leader, got assassinated - AGAIN

Who killed Gandhi? Nathuram Vinayak Godse

Nathuram Vinayak Godse (19 May 1910 – 15 November 1949) was a right-wing advocate of Hindu nationalism who assassinated Mahatma Gandhi in New Delhi on 30 January 1948. He shot Gandhi in the chest three times at point-blank range.

Indian nationalists say that due to Gandhi, India got divided into two and Pakistan came into being .....The truth is Gandhi was the LAST person to accept partition.

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3 Arrested For Shooting At Mahatma Gandhi's Effigy In Aligarh

The Hindu Mahasabha -- of which Mahatma Gandhi's assassin Nathuram Godse was once a member -- also garlanded his statue and distributed sweets to hail what they claimed was a watershed moment in Indian history.

All India | NDTV News Desk (with inputs from PTI) | Updated: January 31, 2019 18:10 IST

Hindu Mahasabha regards Mahatma Gandhi's death anniversary as Shaurya Divas in honour of Nathuram Godse

ALIGARH: A day after a right-wing group shockingly re-enacted the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi by shooting his effigy in Uttar Pradesh's Aligarh, three people have been arrested today, according to news agency PTI.
A case had been registered against 13 people last night after a video showed some people, led by Hindu Mahasabha's general secretary Puja Shakun Pandey, firing shots at an effigy of the Father of the Nation on his 71st death anniversary and then setting it on fire amid cheers.

''We are taking this matter seriously and action will be taken against all those found guilty," police said, adding Puja Shakun Pandey is missing.

The Hindu Mahasabha -- of which Mahatma Gandhi's assassin Nathuram Godse was once a member -- also garlanded his statue and distributed sweets to hail what they claimed was a watershed moment in Indian history.

Puja Shakun Pandey had told reporters yesterday that her organisation has started a new tradition by recreating the assassination, and it will now be practised in a manner similar to the immolation of demon king Ravana on Dussehra.

The Hindu Mahasabha regards the day of Mahatma Gandhi's death as Shaurya Divas (Bravery Day), in honour of Nathuram Godse. The right-wing activist was one of the early members of the organisation, founded by Madan Mohan Malaviya way back in 1915.

This is not the first time the Hindu Mahasabha has tried to glorify Nathuram Godse while trying to denigrate the celebrated freedom fighter. In 2015, outfit leader Swami Pranavananda had announced plans to install statues of Nathuram Godse across six districts of Karnataka. He also described the assassin as a "patriot" who had worked with the blessings of Hindu nationalist Vinayak Damodar Savarkar.

https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/3-arrested-for-shooting-at-mahatma-gandhis-effigy-in-aligarh-1986275

Hope this makes you laugh, Fighter. :lol:

I don't think there is any leader in this world who can talk like that....Who can give speeches like that. Correct me if I am wrong?

Who can do that? Only Khan can do that because he is anything but politician...

Such smart, educated, charming and humble leader we have got.

We love him. Pakistani Youth love him

His below speech will give you a fair ride into his thinking and Pakistan

Listen, please

PM Imran Khan Speech At World Government Summit 2019 | 10 Feb 2019

Thing to remember, as Khan said: “You only lose when you give up”

I will soon post stuff in travel thread as well

Meanwhile, our region has some developments for interesting ones

Pakistan and India are at each other throats. A suicide attack on Indian para military in Kashmir has little bit raised the tensions b/w two nuclear powers of South Asia.

Army soldiers near the site of suicide bomb attack at Awantipora in Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday. (S. Irfan/PTI)

44 CRPF jawans killed, 70 injured in Pulwama terror attack in J&K

3 min read . Updated: 14 Feb 2019, 09:00 PM IST

Shaswati Das

Jaish-e-Mohammed suicide bomber rams explosives-laden SUV into CRPF convoy in Awantipora, Pulwama
The Pulwama terror attack was the most audacious in Jammu and Kashmir in over a decade.

New Delhi: At least 44 personnel of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) were killed and scores injured when a car laden with explosives rammed into a CRPF bus—part of a massive convoy—in Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday, in one of the deadliest terror attacks yet on government forces in the border state.

The bus was carrying 51 CRPF personnel when a Mahindra Scorpio, packed with 300kg of explosives and driven by a Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) suicide bomber, rammed into it in the town of Awantipora in south Kashmir.

“There was a vehicle—either it was parked on the side or driving along the convoy. It was a suicide attack, because the driver rammed the vehicle which triggered the blast. IED (improvised explosive device) jammers are not foolproof so they could not thwart the blast. Chances of a getaway are very high for terrorists and casualties are minimal on their side. But this shows that the expertise of creating IEDs is back in J&K and explosive materials have found their way into Kashmir from Pakistan or are locally developed," a senior intelligence official said, putting the death toll at 44 and those injured at 70. The death toll could rise, the official said.

The bus was part of a huge convoy of 2,547 CRPF personnel who were travelling in 78 vehicles from Jammu to Srinagar. Civilian vehicles are also allowed on routes which see troop movement, and the CRPF convoy was taken by surprise by the SUV, which rammed into the bus, detonating the IED.

“In Latoomode, Awantipora, an IED blast occurred on a bus of the 54 batallion of the CRPF. There are some reports of grenade lobbing and firing upon the vehicles of 35 batallion and 179 batallion coming in as well," CRPF in New Delhi said in a statement.

Although intelligence agencies had warned of a possible terror strike by JeM, ground-level officials said Thursday’s attack was “unprecedented and beyond what we could imagine".

“Attack on CRPF personnel in Pulwama is despicable. I strongly condemn this dastardly attack. The sacrifices of our brave security personnel shall not go in vain. The entire nation stands shoulder to shoulder with the families of the brave martyrs. May the injured recover quickly," Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted.

Attack on CRPF personnel in Pulwama is despicable. I strongly condemn this dastardly attack. The sacrifices of our brave security personnel shall not go in vain. The entire nation stands shoulder to shoulder with the families of the brave martyrs. May the injured recover quickly.

While the entire convoy route from Srinagar to Udhampur (Jammu) is secured by troops deployed all along the stretch, particularly places where terror attacks can take place, the movement of civilian traffic, intelligence officials added, proved to be a major security loophole in this case.

The Pulwama terror attack marks a dangerous shift in the Kashmir conflict, with terrorists now looking increasingly at using IEDs to maximize damage on the Indian front. A team of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) is rushing to Kashmir to aid the state police in conducting a forensic examination of the attack.

With nearly 400,000 troops deployed across Jammu and Kashmir, defence experts reiterated that warfare in Kashmir was undergoing a sea change.

“Terrorists in future will rely on indirect attacks or suicide bombers where damage is maximum and casualties among terrorists are minimum. Such tactics have not been used earlier because it very difficult to bring explosives from across and people trained to make IEDs had been killed by forces during 2004-05. Now the expertise has been resurrected and explosives have been brought in. So we need to be extremely cautious," said Lt. Gen (retd) H.S. Panag, a defence expert.

The damage to the Indian side with the IED blast was far heavier than the casualties from the September 2016 JeM attack on an army brigade headquarters in Uri. Nineteen army personnel were killed in that attack.

In January 2018, an IED explosion by the Jaish-e-Mohammed in Kashmir’s Sopore district killed four police personnel, while another IED was defused in January along the Srinagar-Baramulla highway.

The US Ambassador to India Ken Juster tweeted, “The US Mission in India strongly condemns today’s terrorist attack in Jammu & Kashmir. We send our heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims. The United States stands alongside India in confronting terror and defeating it."

https://www.livemint.com/news/india/pulwama-terror-attack-death-toll-rises-to-40-jem-claims-responsibility-1550143395449.html

Pakistan rejects Indian allegations regarding Pulwama attack

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Sunday rejected Indian allegations regarding Pulwama attack as these were consistent with well-rehearsed tactics from Indian playbook after such previous incidents.

In a series of tweets, Foreign Office Spokesman Dr Mohammad Faisal said, “Indian MEA’s insinuations about FS briefing to diplomatic corps are groundless. Pakistan rejected allegations regarding Pulwama Attack because these were consistent with well-rehearsed tactics from Indian playbook after such previous incidents.”

“These knee-jerk and pre-conceived accusations were rejected also because they were made within a short time after the attack and without any investigations.”

He went on say “Dichotomy in Indian position is evident while it accepts the unverified social media content about JeM claims of responsibility and video of the attacker as “gold standard”, it goes into denial mode when confronted with voluntary confessions and acceptance of responsibility by its serving Naval commander Jadhav for perpetrating terrorist violence in Pakistan.”

Dr Faisal added India owes an explanation on reports of Adil Ahmed Dar’s arrest and custody since 2017. India needs to introspect and respond to questions about its security and intelligence lapses that led to this attack.”

The spokesman further says, “Pakistan desires normalisation of relations with India.”

“Prime Minister Imran Khan said after his inauguration, Pakistan will take two steps if India takes one for normalisation of ties. India cancelled the agreed meeting between two FMs on UNGA sidelines on baseless pretexts,” he added.

Pakistan Kartarpur initiative was a step aimed at improving bilateral ties.

Bluster, belligerence and pursuit of expedient standards to suit internal political interests is counterproductive India must come out of the denial mode, end state repression against Kashmiris, he added.

https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/433216-pakistan-rejects-indian-allegations-regarding-pulwama-attack

Pulwama Type Attacks Will Continue Till Kashmir Issue is Resolved, Says Farooq Abdullah

Abdullah asked Kashmiris in Jammu to maintain patience and do not indulge in sloganeering.
PTIUpdated:February 17, 2019, 10:49 PM IST

File photo of National Conference president Farooq Abdullah. (PTI Photo)

Jammu: National Conference president Farooq Abdullah said Sunday that the people of Kashmir are not responsible for the Pulwama attack but such type of incidents will continue till the "Kashmir issue is resolved politically".

Expressing concern over the alleged attacks on Kashmiri students and businessmen outside the Valley, he said the common people have no role in the attack which left 40 CRPF personnel dead when a suicide bomber struck their convoy on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway on Thursday.

Abdullah was speaking to a group of Kashmiri people who are stranded in Jammu and staying at a mosque in Bathindi area near his residence following imposition of curfew in the city on Friday.

Referring to the all-party meeting chaired by Union home minister Rajnath Singh in Delhi in the aftermath of the deadly attack, Abdullah said, "I said in the meeting that it is not our fault but your mistake as you did not address our aspirations."

"You are targeting our children and compounding our problems. We are caught in a grave situation and are not responsible for what had happened as we have no connection with these outfits," he said.

"Such attacks will continue and will not come down till the Kashmir issue is resolved politically. Please don't beat us. We have no role in it (attack) and we are not with it (terrorism). We want to live with dignity, study and earn our two meals and do not wish to build castles," the NC president said.

Abdullah asked the people to maintain patience and do not indulge in sloganeering. "You people have done nothing wrong but the allegations will still come to you. We have to keep patience and seek help from almighty to bring us out of this situation. The day will come when we will come out of this grave situation," he said.

Without naming anyone, he said some forces are bent upon to create a rift among the people but "we will maintain peace and will not allow them to succeed in their designs".

https://www.news18.com/news/politics/pulwama-type-attacks-will-continue-till-kashmir-issue-is-resolved-says-farooq-abdullah-2039579.html

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Saudi Crown Prince MBS just arrived in Pakistan, today evening. Wanted to share a beautiful footage....When his plane entered into Pak Airspace, Fighter jets; F-16 and JF-17 escorted it

Saudi crown prince arrives in Pakistan for first leg of Asia tour

The crown prince will spend two days in Pakistan

He will also travel to India and China

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman landed in Pakistan on Sunday, kicking off the first leg of his Asia tour.

The crown prince is set to stay in Islamabad for two days.

He is expected to sign agreements worth between $15 billion and $20 billion, including for three power plants in Pakistan’s Punjab province and an oil refinery and petrochemical complex to be set up in the coastal city of Gwadar in southwestern Balochistan.

After Pakistan, the crown prince will travel to India and China.

Prime Minister Imran Khan and his cabinet met the crown prince at Nur Khan airbase. Khan and Prince Mohammed warmly embraced on the tarmac after he stepped off the jet.

The prime minister then drove the crown prince to his residence for the first round of meetings.

In an interview on Saturday, Pakistani prime minister Imran Khan said he hoped Saudi Arabia and Pakistan could join hands to mobilize the international community to resolve the dispute in Kashmir.

A contingent of about 25 business accompanying the crown prince is also expected to seek private investments in Pakistan in the fields of food processing, IT, finance, construction and hospitality.

Last year, Saudi Arabia offered Pakistan $6 billion in financial support to help it see through a balance-of-payments crisis.

The crown prince’s plane was met in Pakistani airspace by the “Sherdils” aerobatics display squad of the Pakistan Air Force. The six JF-17 Thunder aircraft escorted the crown prince’s plane to the Nur Khan Airbase in Rawalpindi, the twin city to the Pakistani capital of Islamabad.

The Saudi Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Adel Al-Jubeir said the this visit "will expand the prospects for fruitful cooperation to achieve the aspirations of the two countries."

http://www.arabnews.com/node/1453471/saudi-arabia

You still around Fighter? I'm curious about something.

I got this story today on my blog roll:

First pictures of Balakot terror camp out: US, UK, Israeli flags painted on stairs

I hadn't heard anything about this claimed Balakot terror camp or an Indian attack on it. Not in the western media.

I looked it up. It seems more Indian media that's concerned with it.

What's the Pakistani side of the story? Anything to these claims?