–Minister says Pakistan is assessing environmental damage and plans to approach UN and other forums soon
The forestry department filed a First Information Report (FIR) against unidentified Indian Air Force (IAF) pilots on Friday for bombing trees in Balakot area of the country’s north on February 26.
The FIR also details the damage caused to 19 trees after Indian aircraft “hastily dropped their payload”. Terming India’s actions as “eco-terrorism”, Pakistan has plans of approaching the United Nations (UN) against the damaged caused by India to the Pakistani environment.
Climate Change Minister Malik Amin Aslam said that Pakistan was assessing the impact caused to the environment by the bombing and the results would be the basis for Pakistan’s complaint at UN and other international forums. “What happened at Jabba Top is defined as environmental terrorism because there has been serious environmental damage,” the minister said.
According to the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) resolution 47/37, the destruction of the environment, not justified by military necessity and carried out wantonly is clearly contrary to the existing international law.
On February 26, Indian aircraft bombed Jabba Top, a hilly forest area near the northern town on Balakot, which is about 40km away from Indian Occupied Kashmir (IOK). India bombed a “forest reserve”
The Reuters reporters who visited the site of the bombings, up to 15 pine trees had been damaged and four large craters could be seen. They also interacted with the local villagers who also dismissed India’s claims of killing 300 militants.
