“It took a blog (Captain’s Quarters) to say what the AP, Reuters, etc. haven’t yet stated (at least to my knowledge).”
Unlikely - presumably they don’t have direct access to the Pakistani government themselves?
It is amazing how often the press gets it wrong on their first try. And, often, their second...and third.
The SF zoo story is a perfect example. The press reports the zoo's claim that the wall in the tiger containment is 20' tall. The claim is soon accompanied by a photo which, immediately upon inspection, indicates that the wall is nowhere near that high.
You'd think a reporter would know how to use a tape measure.