Islamabad: Pakistan rubbished India’s claim on Thursday that Delhi’s forces have carried out “surgical strikes” on militants across the Line of Control (LoC) in Kashmir, saying this was a deliberate bid to create an “illusion’” by misrepresenting cross-border exchange of fire.
“There has been no surgical strike by India,” a statement issued by the Pakistani military’s public relations wing said.
Instead, the statement said, there had been “cross-border fire initiated and conducted by India” in which two Pakistani soldiers “embraced shahada (martyrdom).”
Pakistani troops befittingly responded to Indian “unprovoked firing on LoC in Bhimber, hotspring, Kel, and Lipa sectors,” the statement said, adding the exchange of fire lasted about six hours.
“The notion of surgical strikes linked to alleged terrorist bases is an illusion being deliberately generated by Indians to create false effects.
“As per rules of engagement same was strongly and befittingly responded by Pakistani troops.
“This quest by Indian establishment to create media hype by rebranding cross-border fire as surgical strike is a fabrication of the truth.
“Pakistan has made it clear that if there is a surgical strike on Pakistani soil, the same will be strongly responded,” the military said.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif strongly condemned “unprovoked and naked aggression” of Indian forces along the LoC, in a statement reported by the official media.
The prime minister declared that Pakistan can thwart any evil design and warned that the country’s intent for peaceful neighbourhood should not be mistaken as its weakness.
Defence Minister Khawaja Mohammad Asif said in a statement India was trying to give false colour to the exchange of fire on the LoC to satisfy Indian public and media.
The minister said that Pakistani force had given a befitting response to the “Indian aggression”.
“Our armed forces are fully prepared to do so in case of any further violation of ceasefire on the LoC,” the defence minister said.
Pakistan-India relations dipped to a new low following the September 18 attack on Indian army camp at Uri in Kashmir that killed 18 soldiers.
Islamabad denied New Delhi’s allegations of its involvement in the attack, which took place amid an uprising in the region against Indian rule.
The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) said on Thursday it was vigilant at all times and ready to combat any external aggression. The PAF would protect Pakistan’s air space at any cost, the spokesperson said.
Residents on the Pakistani side of the LoC were meanwhile hunkering down over fears that the situation could unravel further.
“I did not send my children to school today. The situation is very tense,” said Tahir Iqbal, who runs a grocery shop in the town of Athmuqam.
