‘Surgical strikes’ Indian delusion, says Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: The Thursday morning saw claims by India of carrying out surgical strikes inside Pakistan with the latter dismissing it as just firing across the Line of Control (LoC) in which two Pakistani soldiers were martyred.

Pakistan strongly condemned this unprovoked ceasefire violations by the Indian forces which, it said, was continuation of a pattern of ceasefire violations committed by the Indian forces.“We can assure India that any such aggression will not go unanswered or unpunished. Pakistan is ready to defend its people and territory from any Indian aggression or Indian state-sponsored terrorism on Pakistani soil. The valiant armed forces of Pakistan have given and will continue to give a befitting response to any aggression,” said the Foreign Office spokesman in a statement.

The foreign secretary summoned the Indian High Commissioner Gautam Bambawale later in the evening and rejected the baseless Indian claim of the so-called surgical strikes.The foreign secretary condemned the unprovoked firing by the Indian occupation forces on the LoC, resulting in martyrdom of two Pakistani troops.

He conveyed that the armed forces of Pakistan will continue to give a befitting response to any act of aggression.The foreign secretary noted that India had deliberately escalated tensions at the LoC in order to divert the attention oforder to divert the attention of international community from the grave situation in the Indian Occupied Jammu & Kashmir, where the occupation forces had unleashed a reign of terror against innocent and defenseless people.

Immediately after what DG ISPR Lt Gen Asim Saleem Bajwa said was a violation of ceasefire at the LoC and there was no Indian infiltration. Indian DGMO, according to Indian TV when their soldiers had ‘returned’ after these ‘strikes’ telephoned his Pakistani counterpart to say that these operations have since ceased, adding that he also expressed his concern about terrorists operating across the LoC.

Pakistan’s DGMO was also informed that this was an overnight operation of attacking terror “launchpads” in which para-commandos struck seven locations causing several casualties. An Indian footage showed almost like those who carry out suicide attacks, while making preparations which show these para commandos dressing up and smearing their faces as means of camouflage. 

The Foreign Office quickly rejected the baseless Indian claim that it has "carried out surgical strikes inside Pakistan". “The Indian side has chosen to share this falsified claim with their media”, said the statement.

Pakistan says such falsified, concocted and irresponsible statements can only escalate the already fragile security situation in the region, especially in the wake of the Indian brutalities and war crimes in the Indian occupied Jammu and Kashmir.

“India has deliberately escalated tension at the LoC in order to divert attention from the continued deteriorating situation in the Indian occupied Jammu and Kashmir and horrendous Indian brutalities there. 

It is trying to make fool of its own people and the international community”, added the statement. The narrative theory that the two nuclear armed neighbors would not resort to any kind of strikes because of their atomic bombs was thrown out of the window with Delhi’s claims of entering Pak territory to carry out strikes.

Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj also spoke to their counterparts in all UN Security Council member countries and key countries in West Asia to inform them of the operation.

As Indian TV showed footage of what it claimed were surgical strikes. Speaking to Geo News, General Bajwa said, “It does not make any sense there were preparations for infiltration. There is already escalation at the Line of Control (LoC) then why someone will try to infiltrate. We strongly deny such Indian claims.”

He said India violated ceasefire at LoC and later it fabricated this story, adding “it is something which does not even exist”. He said Indian claims of infiltration should be exposed because “India has established an anti-infiltration grid at the depth of 3-4 kilometers on the other side of the LoC and has deployed state-of-the-art technology and has an effective system of fences comprising three layers, which are electrified. Even a bird can be electrocuted if it touches these wires.”

Beyond these layers, India had their check-posts, patrols, ground sensors, he added. In spite of this mechanism, if India claims there is infiltration, there is need to look into it as to why they are telling a lie, Bajwa said.

The General also dismissed Indian media claims that two paratroopers had entered the Pakistan side. “This quest by Indian establishment to create media hype by re-branding cross border fire as surgical strike is fabrication of truth. 

Pakistan has made it clear that if there is a surgical strike on Pakistani soil, same will be strongly responded," he said. Talking to Geo, General Bajwa said the Indian claim of surgical strike and attempts of infiltration were just media gimmicks and fabricated.

He said the Indian Army opened fire at different sectors in Pakistan at 2:00am which continued till 6:30am which was responded to effectively by Pakistan troops and they were silenced. He said eight Indian troops were killed and dozens of check posts were destroyed.

“There is nothing on ground in claims of surgical strikes. It was only that one incident of firing which continued till 6.30am,” he said. He said the DGMOs of both countries had talked over phone where the Indian counterpart said they had witnessed movement at the border. “But when we checked on the ground we found nothing of the sort,” the DG ISPR said.

He said it was unfortunate that the two DGMOs were talking to each other over the hotline, but at the same time the Indian army was indulging ceasefire violations. He said Pakistan had been acting responsibly despite provocations. 

“You might have noticed that every time aggressive and provocative statements come from their side to escalate the situation,” he said, adding nothing was initiated from Pakistan side. The DG ISPR said India had violated the Line of Control and the ceasefire agreement. 

Speaking about a telephonic conversation between Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif and the Army Chief General Raheel after the LoC attack, he said this was a routine procedure which was followed in such a situation and updates were given.

He said the martyrdom of the two Pakistan Army soldiers will not go in vain. To a question about the loss suffered by Indian troops, he said, “The fire from our side was effective and directed and we are confirming the loss which they suffered,” he said. 

Gen Bajwa said the Pakistan Army was conducting military exercises with Russia.  “The world wants to learn from our experiences of fighting the war on terror.” Commenting on Uri strikes, the Foreign Office spokesman which was the reason for the situation at the LoC Pakistan was not satisfied with the ‘information’ shared by India in this regard.

“I want to draw a distinction between evidence and information. What they have shared with us is just a piece of paper. In the previous incidents too, there has been exchange of papers. We are waiting for details to come. Once received, we will look into the details and will share them accordingly”.

He added that Pakistan believes in regional peace and stability. Pakistan pursues the policy of peace with its neighbors. “We do not believe in spending our resources and energy on the activities which are detrimental to the peace and development of the region unlike one country”, he said.

Pakistan considers it has a very unique role to play in the connectivity of the entire region including South Asia, Central Asia and West Asia.  Pakistan would like to exploit this potential of regional connectivity more than using our energies towards undertaking activities just to teach lesson to one country.

“This is unlike that country, which is constantly engaged in vilification campaigns against Pakistan, and remains involved in undertaking all measures to sabotage peace-building efforts in the region”, he pointed out.

The spokesman, to a query, responded that despite all kind of tricks, Pakistan cannot be isolated by mere statements of the Indian prime minister.

“Pakistan enjoys friendly and close relations with the comity of nations and prime minister of Pakistan’s engagements on the sidelines of the 71st UNGA session in New York, China’s massive investments, joint exercises with Russia, visit of Iranian Naval ships, signing of mega project agreements with Central Asian States, Russia, China and International Financial Institutions make Indian claim a laughing stock”, he explained.

The statement by the Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj referring to Indian Occupied Jammu & Kashmir as an integral part of India is the denial of the UN Security Council resolutions calling for free, fair and impartial plebiscite to ascertain the wishes of the people of the Jammu and Kashmir.

“It was an arrogant, irresponsible and highly regrettable act to discredit the sanctity of the UN Security Council Resolutions at the very UN Forum. The UN members should take note of it and should admonish India”, said the spokesman.

Commenting on investigations into the Uri attack the spokesman said, “We cannot comment prior to an independent investigation report on the Uri attack. If you recall, there was call for an independent inquiry into the Uri attack. 

I would ask you to see this reported incident in the context of two important backgrounds: (i) ongoing atrocities by Indian security forces in the Occupied Kashmir and India’s desperate attempt to divert world’s attention from the region; and (ii) India has demonstrated capability of staging terrorists attack on its soil and blaming it on others”, he explained.

Continuing on Mission Kashmir, the spokesman said the Indian government cannot absolve itself of the killing of more than 110,000 innocent Kashmiri people since its occupation of the IOK.

“Discovery of mass graves of thousands of indigenous Kashmiris, whom India killed by falsely labeling them as infiltrators, calls for initiation of a case against India for committing crimes against humanity”, he added.

“We condemn the grave human rights violations being perpetrated by the Indian Occupation forces in the IOK.  Pakistan’s call for a free and impartial investigation through the fact finding mission of the United Nations to ensure the accountability for brutalities in the IOK has been joined by calls by the UN Human Rights Commissioner, OIC, Members of OIC Contact Group on Kashmir and civil society from across the world”, he commented.

Pakistan says Indian hatred for innocent Kashmiris and inability of more than 700,000 fully equipped occupation forces to control Kashmiri youths, who are peacefully demanding their right to self-determination, has frustrated them so much that the Kashmiri students studying at Ganga Institute of Management and Technology Haryana are being persecuted by their counterparts and security guards on the campus at the behest of the Indian state. One student was so seriously injured that he is on the verge of incapacitation.

India is desperate to divert the international community’s attention from the atrocities and blatant human rights violations being committed by the occupation forces in the Indian Occupied Kashmir on defenseless Kashmiri Muslims. 

During the last eighty-three days Indian occupation forces have martyred more than 100 innocent Kashmiris, including children, women and young men, caused injuries to the eyes of over 800 through use of pellet guns, blinding many hundreds, either completely or partially, and injured more than 12,000 people.

The Indian atrocities have attracted the world attention, which is manifested in the strong condemnations and calls by the international political and human rights organizations as also members of civil society from across the world for sending fact finding missions to the Indian Occupied Kashmir.

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Meanwhile President Mamnoon Hussain and Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif Thursday strongly condemned unprovoked and naked aggression of Indian forces resulting in the martyrdom of two Pakistani soldiers along the LoC. 

In his statement, Nawaz paid rich tribute to the martyred jawans and said: “Our intent for a peaceful neighbourhood should not be mistaken as our weakness, as our valiant forces are fully capable of defending the territorial integrity of the motherland and can thwart any evil design made to undermine the sovereignty of Pakistan.”

President Mamnoon Hussain condemned the unprovoked firing by the Indian forces at the Line of Control (LoC) and said India should not undermine peace in the region through its warmongering.

In a statement, the president said the whole nation and the armed forces were ready and united for the defense of the motherland.

“India is trying to divert attention from its ongoing atrocities and brutalities in the IHK. India wants to divert attention of international community through devious ways but it would never be successful in this regard.”

President Mamnoon underscored that Pakistan desired rule of peace in the region and did not want confrontation with any country but warned that any act of aggression would be forcefully retaliated.

”Our armed forces are fully prepared and have full capability to thwart any aggression he added.

Meanwhile, the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) said Pakistan’s airspace would be safeguarded at any cost. "PAF is always alert and ready to issue a befitting response to foreign aggression," a spokesperson said.