New Delhi: Pakistan targeted civilians and civilian infrastructure and is resorting to a misinformation campaign, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said on Saturday. In a press briefing by the Ministry of External Affairs, Vikram Misri, flanked by Colonel Sophia Qureshi and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh, said that India has ensured minimum collateral damage in its retaliation.
"The claim about the Air Force Station in Sirsa being destroyed, completely false, as you have seen. The claim about the Air Force Station in Surat being destroyed, completely false again, as you have seen. There is a claim that has been made that the S-400 base at Adampur was destroyed, completely false, once again," the Foreign Secretary said.
"Claims have been made about large sections of Indian critical infrastructure, power systems, cyber systems, etc, being attacked and destroyed, which are completely false," Vikram Misri said. He urged people not to be misled by the "tissue of lies" being peddled by the Pakistani state.
The Foreign Secretary emphasised how Pakistan continues with its campaign of targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure, especially in the states of Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab. "There is also on its part a consistent attempt to sow discord between communities in India."
Foreign Secretary Misri said that there has been a particular focus on targeting of civilian infrastructure and population of India by Pakistan. He said earlier on Saturday, Pakistan shelled the town of Rajouri in Jammu and Kashmir, which resulted in the death of ADDM Raj Kumar Thapa. He informed that overnight, there was damage to property and civilians in Firozpur and Jalandhar, amongst other places".
He slammed Pakistan for spreading fake news on targeting itself, calling, "These lame attempts to divide India are doomed to failure". "There is a completely ludicrous claim that Indian missiles have hit Afghanistan. Totally frivolous allegation," He said that Afghan people don't need to be reminded which country has targeted the civilian population and infrastructure", Misri said.
"We have also seen in some of the remarks that have been shown on television that the Pakistani Army Spokesman seems to take great joy in the fact that the Indian public should criticise the Government of India with regard to various issues. It may be a surprise to Pakistanis to see citizens criticising their own government. That is the hallmark of an open and functioning democracy. Pakistan's unfamiliarity with that, again, should not be surprising," he added.
Colonel Sofiya Qureshi stated that precision strikes were carried out on Pakistani military targets in Rafiqui, Murid, Chaklala, Rahim Yar Khan, Sukkur, and Chunian, as well as radar sites at Pasrur and Sialkot aviation bases, using air-launched weapons from Indian fighter aircraft.
She further noted that the precision targeting was done to minimise any collateral damage, reiterating India's commitment to not wanting to escalate the situation. "In response to Pakistan targeting civilian targets, the Indian Armed Forces retaliated and targeted technical installations, command and control centres, radar sites and ammunition strongholds... Pakistan military targets in Rafiqui, Murid, Chaklala, Rahim Yar Khan, Sukkur and Chunian were engaged by air-launched precision weapons from our fighter aircraft," she said
"Radar sites at Pasrur and Sialkot aviation bases were also targeted using precision weapons. While carrying out these attacks, India has ensured minimal collateral damage," she added. Colonel Qureshi also outlined the extent of Pakistan's aggression, which included the use of Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicles (UCAVS), long-range weapons, loitering ammunition, and fighter jets to target India's military structures.
Pakistan has continued its aggressive attack on the western border. At the LoC, they used drones and heavy-calibre weapons to attack. From Srinagar to Naliya, in more than 26 locations, airspace infiltration was attempted," she stated.
Despite the intensity of the attacks, Indian forces successfully engaged and retaliated, though airbases in Udhampur, Pathankot, Adampur, Bhuj, and Bathinda sustained damage, and personnel were injured. Pakistan's use of high-speed missiles at 1:40 AM to target Punjab's airbase station and the unprofessional targeting of hospitals and schools in airbases in Srinagar, Awantipora, and Udhampur were particularly condemned.
"Pakistan has continued its aggressive attack on the western border... They used UCAP drones, long-range weapons, loitering ammunition and fighter Jets to target India's military structures... At LoC, they used drones and heavy-calibre weapons to attack... At the IB and LoC from Srinagar to Naliya, in more than 26 locations, airspace infiltration was attempted," she said.
"The Indian armed forces have successfully engaged and retaliated to the attacks. However, airbases in Udhampur, Pathankot, Adampur, Bhujj and Bhatinda station equipment were damaged and personnel were injured... Pakistan has used high-speed missiles at 1:40 am to target Punjab's airbase station... A condemning and unprofessional act was done by Pakistan by targeting Hospitals and Schools in Air bases in Srinagar, Awantipora and Udhampur," Qureshi added.
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