Security personnel keep vigil amid prevailing India-Pak tensions
Credit: PTI Photo
New Delhi: India on Saturday tore through Pakistan's false propaganda like destruction of an S-400 unit and Brahmos base among others, making it clear that each of such claims are nothing but “malicious misinformation campaign.”
The list of such claims include destruction of S-400 air defence systems at Adampur, damage of IAF stations at Suratgarh, Sirsa, Jammu, Pathankot, Bhatinda, Naliya and Bhuj and demolition of a Brahmos base at Nagrota, artillery gun positions in forward locations, and Chandigarh and Vyas forward ammunition depot.
“To say that our S-400 base at a northern station was destroyed by a JF-17 jet is false. Also that a Brahmos installation was destroyed was false information. Destruction of airfields at Srinagar, Jammu, Pathankot, Bhatinda, Naliya and Bhuj etc was false information,” said Wg Cdr Vyomika Singh, the IAF officer, who briefed the media.
Each of the Pakistani claims were blatant lies, officials said. “Pakistani claims continue to be heavy on lies, misinformation and propaganda,” said Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri. “People should not be misled by lies being peddled by Pakistan.”
“Claims have been made about large sections of Indian critical infrastructure like power systems and cyber systems being attacked and destroyed. These are completely false,” he said.
Indian officials also made it categorically clear that no mosque was attacked while responding to Pakistani provocations.
“In the highest regard, our operations have been aimed exclusively at terrorist camps and facilities being used for anti-India activities. No religious sites have been targeted by the Indian Armed forces," said Wg Cdr Singh.
Misri said Pakistan's allegations that Indian missiles have hit Afghanistan were false. "This is yet again a completely ludicrous claim that Indian missiles have hit Afghanistan. Totally frivolous allegation," he said.
“Pakistan continues with its execrable and wanton 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," he said.
Foreign secretary slammed attempts by Pakistan to show that Indian people are criticising their own government on various issues.
"We have also seen in some of the remarks that have been shown on television that the Pakistan Army spokesman seems to take great joy at the fact that the Indian public should criticise the government of India with regard to various issues," Misri said.
"It may be a surprise to Pakistan 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," the foreign secretary added.