ISLAMABAD: The Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) on Thursday denied claims of the Indian Army that a surgical strike had killed two Pakistani soldiers at the LOC.
There has been no surgical strike by India, instead there had been cross border fire initiated and conducted by India which is existential phenomenon, the ISPR said.
“The notion of surgical strike linked to alleged terrorists bases is an illusion being deliberately generated by Indian to create false effects.”
“This quest by Indian establishment to create media hype by rebranding 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,” the ISPR said.
Two Pakistani soldiers embraced martyrdom when Indian forces resorted to unprovoked firing across the Line of Control (LoC) on Thursday morning, amid mounting tensions between the two nuclear-armed adversaries over occupied Kashmir, the ISPR confirmed.
In an interview, Director General ISPR Lt General Asim Salim Bajwa described the Indian claim of surgical strike as totally wrong and baseless. He said Pakistan is keeping a close watch on Indian movements and if they committed a mistake, they would be responded with full force as Pakistan is prepared to repel any aggression. He said the Indians fired with small arms and mortar and two soldiers embraced martyrdom at different places by Indian firing.
Earlier, Indian ministry of external affairs and ministry of defence addressed a joint press conference on Thursday after fire was exchanged on the LoC.
Director General of Military Operations (DGMO)?Lt Gen Ranbir Singh said during the address that surgical strikes were conducted by the Indian army on “terror launch pads along the LoC.”
Unprovoked firing at the LOC in Kel and Lipa sectors began at 2:30 AM and continued till 8:00 AM, ISPR said.
Firing began at Poonch District at 3 AM. Indian forces also opened fire at Bhimber District, Chamb Sector, Samhini Sector, Bandala and Humgah, sources said. The Indian forces also fired Mortars at Dudhanyal Sector and fired mortars at nearby areas.
Deputy Commissioner of Neelum Valley Sardar Abdul Waheed Khan has prohibited vehicles near the LOC. Public gathering and unnecessary wandering in the area has been banned. Primary schools in the area have been closed. —INP
