News Analysis |
In an interesting development, Pakistan on Friday lodged a complaint in the United Nations Environment Assembly against India over ‘eco-terrorism’, local media reported. Pakistan has raised the matter relating to ‘eco-terrorism’ at UN Environment Assembly (UNEA) in the wake of air strikes by India that damaged pine trees. Pakistan plans to lodge a complaint against India at the United Nations, over “eco-terrorism” in the wake of air strikes that damaged pine trees, Federal Minister for Climate Change Amin Aslam said.
According to the available details, a dossier has been submitted by Adviser on Climate Change Malik Amin Aslam Khan following directives of Prime Minister Imran Khan. The document stated that Indian military aircraft had dropped their payload in a ‘reserve’ forest before hastily fleeing back after an intrusion into Pakistan’s territory on February 26.
It also demanded the United Nations withdraw its award of Champions of the Earth conferred on Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Pakistan submits dossier to UN after India's botched air strike
The Ministry of Climate Change writes to the UN about Indian air strikes on Pakistan’s nature reserve forests#Ecoterrorism pic.twitter.com/qiejocjZZS
— Waleed Tariq (@WaleedTariq89) March 15, 2019
It is worth mentioning here that Islamabad demanded the United Nations (UN) to take notice of illegal incursion into Pakistani airspace perpetrated by the Indian Air Force last month.
Islamabad, in its complaint filed, urged the international community to ask New Delhi to compensate over causing damages to its natural assets, especially trees and forests, on February 26’s brazen attack.
The act has clearly violated the Articles 35(3) and 55(1) of Protocol 1 (Additional Protocol) of the Geneva Convention of August 12 – 1949 that prohibits warfare that may cause widespread, long term and severe damage to the natural environment,’ the document stated.
Moreover, the document highlighted that Pakistan’s pristine ‘protected area’ forests and biodiversity were subjected to an aggression in the name of strike, violating the spirit of valuing nature, following ‘eco-terrorism’ which is defined as the ‘destruction or the threat of destruction of the environment by states, groups or individuals in order to intimidate or to coerce governments or civilians.”
Islamabad, in its complaint filed, urged the international community to ask New Delhi to compensate over causing damages to its natural assets, especially trees and forests, on February 26’s brazen attack. The ‘strike against nature’ ought to be ostracized and condemned across the global community which values nature, it added.
Read more: US satellite images expose Indian surgical strike claims
Earlier PTI had announced that “Eco-Terrorism started by #India in the sub-continent, more than dozen Pines trees were bombed by Indian Airforce near Balakot. #Pakistan will be lodging complaint against India in @UN for causing damage to the environment!”
Eco-Terrorism started by #India in the sub-continent, more than dozen Pines trees were bombed by Indian Airforce near Balakot. #Pakistan will be lodging complaint against India in @UN for causing damage to the environment!
Details => https://t.co/6wFwkWZb4H pic.twitter.com/sjbEoDP9xB
— PTI (@PTIofficial) March 2, 2019
Analysts believe that it is a new way to embarrass India at the international level since it claimed to target a religious seminary allegedly belonging to a banned outfit but in reality, it only damaged the Pines trees. The matter shall become visible to the entire world once it is presented before the UN and discussed at length. Experts believe that the most interesting part is going to be the response of India. She can neither deny nor confess it at the highest international forum where responsibility is considered a pre-requisite for any sovereign, independent state.