Dawn journalist barred from leaving Pakistan over his report on civil-military tension after surgical strikes

New Delhi: Dawn journalist who wrote the article about a discord between the civilian government and the powerful military in Pakistan following India's surgical strikes against terrorists in PoK has reportedly been asked not to leave the country.

Cyril Almeida, who works for the Dawn newspaper, has been put on the “Exit Control List”, which means he won't be able to leave the country, the Quint reported.

Post surgical strikes, in an explosive story Almeida claimed that the Nawaz Sharif government has directed the country's military leadership to act against terrorists or face international isolation.

The story, headlined “Act against militants or face international isolation, civilians tell military”, has triggered a major political storm in Pakistan since the article suggested that it was a direct fallout of the surgical strikes by India.

Indians considered this development as a major sign of Pakistan conceding its earlier ground that cross-border terrorism is carried out by non-state actors.

The article claimed that Sharif gave the orders at a high-level meeting in which India was a major topic of discussion between the civilian and military rulers.

His story was subsequently denied by the government and the armed forces.