Throughout Tuesday, the news was rife with reports of Line of Control violation by Indian Air Forces and the subsequent payload drop at Balakot. While India claims 350 militants of JeM, a militant group that took responsibility for the Pulwama attack, have been targeted and killed, Pakistan has assured that there were no casualties.
Foreign Minister of Pakistan, Shah Mehmood Qureshi, issued a strong statement following India’s excursion stating that Pakistan will retaliate at a time and place of it’s choosing.
Past midnight on Tuesday, while news channels aired routine programs, many people took to twitter to report that heavy firing is taking place across the Sialkot border. The news is as yet unverified by the government and credible news channels. It is quite possible that people are trying to raise hue and cry, considering the already tense political situation. The hashtag ‘#Sialkot’ has already replaced ‘#IndianFailedStrike’ for the number one trending spot on Twitter.
International journalist for Dawn News and Samaa TV tweets about the situation at Sialkot
Sialkot sector on the line of control (LoC) between Pakistan and India has turned into a massive battlefield with heavy casualties being reported from both sides. Tanks are forwarded on the frontline as air patrolling is increased in Pakistan – #UnitedWeStrike #IndianFailedStrike
— Wajahat Kazmi (@KazmiWajahat) February 26, 2019
Civilians have also taken to twitter for updates
Many tweets containing videos claim firing is taking place at the Sialkot LoC. The credibility of the videos is being questioned.
Pakistanis from other cities are also reporting on unusual activities
People I know in Lahore cantonment area can hear massive firing lots and lots of jets flying around currently. Yes! https://t.co/8AkbrzAhLh
— Junaid (@junaidmuhammadd) February 26, 2019
However, the counter narrative states that news about firing near Sialkot LoC is fake
Fake news… I'm living in Sialkot Chawinda sector and there is nothing like u r spreading
— Musawar Ahmed Kahloon (@MusawarKahloon) February 26, 2019
Fact Check: Situation in #Sialkot right now! Social Media claims that heavy firing and fight going on near Sialkot LOC. pic.twitter.com/bpAtkW7N6H
— Syed Raza Mehdi (@SyedRezaMehdi) February 26, 2019
FAKE NEWS. This is not Sialkot. The video has been taken from this Persian website: https://t.co/FNKYwvsLkq https://t.co/U9JouoSDW6
— Umer Ali (@IamUmer1) February 26, 2019
Misleading news nothing at sialkot border i m from near border area
— Ali | علی (@hali_skt) February 26, 2019
I’m living in Sialkot and have heard no such sound! I think giving this news hype is benefiting some parties and we should instead deal it with care instead of just smashing the retweet button as it can really put life of serious patients at stake
— Rehan Akbar (@irehanakbar) February 26, 2019