New Delhi [India]: As tensions between India and Pakistan escalate, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has strongly condemned Pakistan for targeting civilian infrastructure, including schools and places of worship, along the Line of Control (LoC). Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri labelled Pakistan’s actions as “a new low even for Pakistan.”
Speaking at a press briefing on Friday, Misri described how Pakistani shelling landed near Christ School in Poonch on May 7, killing two students and injuring their parents.
“During heavy shelling across the LoC in the early morning of May 7, a shell fired from Pakistan landed just behind the Christ School in Poonch. The shell hit the home of two students of the school, who unfortunately lost their lives and their parents sustained injuries.”
He added:
“Several school staff and locals took refuge in an underground hall of the school during the shelling by Pakistan. The school was fortunately closed, otherwise, more losses would have occurred. Pakistan is targeting and shelling places of worship with a particular design, including gurdwaras, churches and temples. This is a new low even for Pakistan.”
Misri also criticized Pakistan for targeting Indian cities like Amritsar and for spreading disinformation about a supposed drone strike on Nankana Sahib Gurdwara, calling it “a blatant lie.”
“Instead of owning up to its actions, Pakistan made the preposterous and outrageous claims that it is the Indian armed forces that are targeting its own cities like Amritsar and trying to blame Pakistan. They are well-versed in such actions as their history would show… Pakistan spread disinformation that India targeted the Nankama Sahib Gurdwara through a drone attack, which is yet another blatant lie… Pakistan is trying desperately to impart a communal hue to the situation with an intention to create a communal discord…”
He further added:
“These provocative and escalatory actions taken by Pakistan last night were targeted at Indian cities and civilian infrastructure in addition to military establishments. Indian armed forces responded proportionately, adequately, and responsibly… The official and blatantly farsical denial of these attacks that Pakistan carried out, by the Pakistani state machinery is another example of their duplicity and the new depths they are plumbing to.”
At the same briefing, Colonel Sofiya Qureshi revealed that Pakistan launched 300 to 400 drones across 36 locations, attempting large-scale infiltration.
“On the night of May 7 and 8, the Pakistani army violated Indian airspace several times over the entire western border with the intention of targeting military infrastructure. Not only this, the Pakistani army also fired heavy-calibre weapons along the Line of Control. Around 300 to 400 drones were used to attempt infiltration at 36 locations.”
She added:
“The Indian armed forces shot down many of these drones using kinetic and non-kinetic means. The possible purpose of such large-scale aerial intrusions was to test air defence systems and collect intelligence. Forensic investigation of the wreckage of the drones is being done. Initial reports suggest that they are Turkish Asisguard Songar drones…”
Defence sources informed ANI that Pakistan used Hamas-style missiles to target Jammu on Thursday, employing cheap, unguided rockets similar to those used in attacks on Israeli cities.
These aggressive moves are being seen as retaliation to India’s Operation Sindoor, in which the Indian Armed Forces destroyed nine terrorist infrastructure sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir on May 8. The strikes were in direct response to the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, which killed 26 people.
The Indian Army also successfully neutralised more than 50 Pakistani drones during the massive counter-drone operation, and an Air Defence system in Lahore was taken out.