An aeroplane-shaped toy balloon carrying the logo of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) sent Indian officials into a flutter after it was spotted in Jammu city of Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
The white and saffron-coloured balloon with “PIA” written in green was found in the Nai Basti area, triggering what locals mocked as “a full-blown security alert over a child’s plaything.”
This is the second such “high-profile recovery” in a week, after another balloon with PIA markings was picked up in Samba. Locals joked that New Delhi’s forces, armed to the teeth, now feel threatened by balloons drifting with the wind.
Observers said the incident once again highlights the deep insecurity of Indian authorities in occupied Jammu and Kashmir, where even harmless toys are viewed through the lens of hostility towards Pakistan.
