Balakot air strike: FIR filed in Pakistan against IAF pilots for bombing trees

Islamabad, Mar 08: An FIR has been registered in Pakistan by the forestry department on Friday against the Indian Air Force (IAF) for bombing and destroying trees in the Balakot area, as reported by Express News.

The FIR, registered against unidentified IAF pilots, also details the damage suffered by 19 trees after Indian aircraft "hastily dropped their payload".

Earlier it was reported that Pakistan has planned to lodge a complaint against India at the United Nations, accusing it of "eco-terrorism" over air strikes that damaged pine trees, a Minister said on March 1.

Pakistan Climate Change Minister Malik Amin Aslam had claimed that India's IAF airstrike targeting a Jaish-e-Mohammad training camp has damaged dozens of pine trees near the Pakistani town of Balakot. Taking note of which, the Pakistan plans to lodge a complaint against India at the United Nations, accusing it of "eco-terrorism".

The United Nations states that "destruction of the environment, not justified by military necessity and carried out wantonly, is clearly contrary to existing international law", according to the UN General Assembly resolution 47/37.