INDIA'S ''ECO'' TERRORISM

PAKISTAN : The Forestry Department, on Friday, registered a complaint against pilots of the Indian Air Force [IAF] for destroying trees in the Balakot area.

According to the information available from media sources, the First Information Report [FIR]  further detailed the damage suffered by 19 trees after Indian aircraft ''hastily dropped their payload''.

Islamabad has also announced plans to lodge a complaint against India at the U.N. accusing New Delhi of committing eco-terrorism.

Climate Change Minister Malik Amin Aslam had said the Indian warplanes had bombed a ''forest reserve'' and the government was undertaking an environmental impact assessment , which would be used to register a complaint at the UN  among other forums.

He exclaimed, ''What happened over there is an economic terrorism.''

While making note of the dozens of pine trees that had been razed, the minister maintained  ''There has been serious environmental damage''.

Two international journalists found four craters  at the site of the bombings and claimed that up to 15 pine trees had been brought down.

Meanwhile, local villagers had also dismissed Indian claims of targeting hundreds of militants in the attack.

The UN proclaims in its General Assembly resolution 47/37, ''destruction of the environment, not justified by military necessity  and carried out wantonly, is clearly contrary to existing international law.''

Some weeks ago, Indian warplanes bombed the hilly forest of Jabba Top, near the northern town of  Balakot, and about 40 kilometres from occupied Kashmir. [Agencies].