Pakistan Media Hails JeM Terrorist As ‘Freedom Fighter’; Here’s How Pak Media Covered Pulwama Attack

New Delhi, February 15: The tragic attack on Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) convoy in Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday has shocked the entire country as well as the international community. In the deadly attack by Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) suicide bomber, at least 38 CRPF personnel lost their lives. Soon after the terror outfit JeM claimed responsibility of the attack, India slammed Pakistan for the gruesome act and asked them to stop supporting terror outfits operating from their soil. Jaish-e-Mohammed Carried Out Pulwama Attack to Avenge Killings of Maulana Masood Azhar's Nephew?

Although Pakistan was quiet for hours, later at midnight, its Foreign Office issued a statement. "We have always condemned heightened acts of violence in the Valley," the Foreign Office said. The neighbouring country also rejected its involvement in the attack. "We strongly reject any insinuation by elements in the Indian government and media circles that seek to link the attack to the State of Pakistan without investigations," the Foreign Office added. The Pakistan media had widely covered the incident and some even carried editorials pieces.

The Pakistani daily, The Nation hailed suicide bomber Adil Ahmed Dar as "freedom fighter". The daily also quoted a JeM spokesperson saying that the outfit had “nothing to do with the attack.” India Lodges Protest; Pakistan High Commissioner Sohail Mahmood Summoned by MEA.

A report by The Nation said, "Refusing to bow down to the ever-increasing Indian brutalities in Occupied Kashmir, the freedom fighters on Thursday struck back hard at the occupational forces when a car bomb ripped through an Indian military convoy killing 44 soldiers and injuring dozens of others on Srinagar-Jammu highway in Awantipora area of Pulwama district."

A report from Pakistani Daily:

Although the JeM has publicly taken responsibility for the attack, the daily said that "the Indian government tried to give the incident terrorism colour" and "New Delhi was trying to take away the credit from the valiant Kashmir youth." The daily also noted the protest by separatists like Chairman of Hurriyat Forum Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Syed Ali Shah Geelani against the civilians' death in the valley.

One of Pakistan's oldest daily, Dawn reported on how the terror attack can further strain ties between the two countries. “New Delhi accuses Pakistan of fuelling the uprising (in Kashmir) that has left tens of thousands of civilians dead. Islamabad denies the charge, saying it only provides diplomatic support to Kashmiris' right to self-determination,” the report read.

Meanwhile, the Indian government has initiated diplomatic action against Pakistan. The Cabinet Committee on Security met earlier today to discuss the current scenario in Jammu and Kashmir in the wake of the Pulwama terror attack. The meeting was chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Union Ministers Rajnath Singh, Arun Jaitley, Sushma Swaraj were also present at the meeting.

On Thursday, the attack took place around 3:30 pm, a Mahindra Scorpio loaded with explosives intentionally crashed into a CRPF convoy on the Jammu-Srinagar highway. In the attack, at least 38 jawans were martyred, while several injured.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Feb 15, 2019 04:56 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).