Shri Randhir Jaiswal, Official Spokesperson: Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. I welcome you to this briefing by Foreign Secretary Shri Vikram Misri on the ongoing developments around OPERATION SINDOOR. We are also joined by Colonel Sofiya Qureshi and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh for this briefing. With that, sir, the floor is … over to you.

 

Foreign Secretary Shri Vikram Misri: Good Morning, Sorry to keep you all waiting. As we have already informed in the last 2-3 briefings, the activities from Pakistan since the last 2-3 days have been escalatory and provocative in nature. As I've said on numerous earlier occasions, it is Pakistani actions that have constituted provocation and escalation. In response, and I repeat, in response, India has defended and reacted in a responsible and measured fashion to these provocations and these escalations by the Pakistani side.

 

Earlier this morning, we saw a repeat of this escalatory and provocative pattern, and I invite Colonel Sofiya Qureshi and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh to update you on the developments since early this morning.

 

Wg. Cdr. Vyomika Singh: Pakistani military continued with its provocations, carrying out aggressive actions employing multiple threat vectors all along the western border. Pakistan employed UCAV, drones, long-range weapons, loitering munitions and fighter aircrafts to target civilian areas and military infrastructure. Pakistan military also resorted to air intrusions using drones and firing of heavy calibre weapons along the Line Of Control.

 

Along the international border and the Line of Control, air intrusions and several harassment attacks were also attempted from Srinagar till Naliya at more than 26 locations. Indian Armed Forces successfully neutralised these threats and majority of the vectors. However, limited damage was sustained to equipment and personnel at Indian Air Force stations at Udhampur, Pathankot, Adampur and Bhuj. There were also several high-speed missile attacks noticed subsequently after 0140 hours in the night at several air bases in Punjab.

 

In a deplorable cowardly act, targeting of civilian infrastructure also had taken place where Pakistan attacked the medicare centre and school premises at the air bases of Srinagar, Awantipora and Udhampur, yet again displaying irresponsible targeting of our civilian infrastructure. In a swift and calibrated response, Indian Armed Forces carried out precision attacks only on identified military targets. These included technical infrastructure, command and control centres, radar sites and weapon storage areas. Pakistan military targets at Rafiqui, Murid, Chaklala, Rahim Yar Khan, Sukkur and Chunian were engaged using air-launched precision weapons from our fighter aircrafts. Radar sites at Pasrur and Sialkot aviation base were also targeted using precision munitions. While carrying out these responses, India ensured minimum collateral damage.

 

Pakistan has also attempted to execute a continued malicious misinformation campaign with claims of destruction of Indian S-400 system at Adampur, destruction of airfields at Suratgarh and Sirsa, BrahMos base at Nagrota, RT gun positions at Dehrangyari and Chandigarh Forward Ammunition Depot; with heavy damages to other military stations being propagated on social media. India unequivocally rejects these false narratives being spread by Pakistan.

 

Along the Line Of Control also, Pakistan has attempted multiple air intrusions using drones and conducted shelling using heavy-calibre RT guns, targeting civilian infrastructure and killing some civilians. Heavy exchange of artillery mortars and small-arm fire in Kupwara, Baramulla, Poonch, Rajouri and Akhnoor sectors continued. Indian Army has responded effectively and proportionately, causing extensive damage to Pakistan Army.

 

Pak military has been observed to be moving their troops into forward areas, indicating offensive intent to further escalate the situation. Indian Armed Forces remain in a high state of operational readiness. All hostile actions have been effectively countered and responded appropriately.

 

Indian Armed Forces reiterate their commitment to non-escalation, provided it is reciprocated by the Pakistan Military. At the end I would like to show you a few images of Airforce bases in the Punjab sector and Rajasthan sector where it is mighty clear that we are debunking the Pakistani claims causing destructions at these air bases. You can also see the normalcy at these Airforce stations.

 

This is Sirsa… Suratgarh…. The runways are intact. They are also time stamped. This is today.

 

Thank you very much.

 

Foreign Secretary Shri Vikram Misri: Thank you Colonel Qureshi. Thank you Wing Commander Singh.

 

I just have a few points to make in closing. First of all, as you have seen, Pakistani claims about activities that they have undertaken continue to be heavy on lies, misinformation, and propaganda.

 

And on top of that, this is peddled by Pakistani state agencies. The claims that they have made about attacking and destroying various places, various military installations and facilities, as has been pointed out by my colleagues here this morning, are completely false.

 

The claim about the Air Force Station in Sirsa being destroyed, completely false, as you have seen. The claim about the Air Force Station in Surat being destroyed, completely false again, as you have seen. There is a claim that has been made that the S-400 base at Adampur was destroyed, completely false, once again. Claims have been made about large sections of Indian critical infrastructure, power systems, cyber systems, etc. being attacked and destroyed, completely false. I would urge all of you, and all those who watch this, not to be misled by this tissue of lies that is being peddled by the Pakistani State for obvious purposes.

 

The second point that I wanted to emphasize is that 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.

 

As I said, there has been a particular focus in its targeting of civilian infrastructure and the population in Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab. Earlier this morning, Pakistan shelled the town of Rajouri, killing the Additional District Development Commissioner Shri Raj Kumar Thapa, adding to the civilian casualties and the damage in that state. We have also observed overnight damage to property and injuries to civilians in Ferozepur and Jalandhar, among other places.

 

Finally, as I said, Pakistani officials also continue to make ludicrous claims about India firing missiles towards Shri Amritsar Sahib. As I said, these lame attempts to divide India are doomed to failure.

 

We have also seen in some of the remarks that have been shown on television that the Pakistani Army Spokesman seems to take great joy at the fact that the Indian public should criticize the Government of India with regard to various issues. It may be a surprise to Pakistan to see citizens criticizing their own government. That is the hallmark of an open and functioning democracy. Pakistan's unfamiliarity with that, again, should not be surprising.

 

And finally, there is this yet again completely ludicrous claim that Indian missiles have hit Afghanistan. Totally frivolous allegation. And I only want to point out that Afghan people don't need to be reminded about which country it is, that has on multiple occasions, in just the last one and a half years, targeted civilian populations and civilian infrastructure in Afghanistan.

 

Ladies and gentlemen, as you would have gathered from this morning's briefing, we are dealing with an evolving situation. Accordingly, today, we don't have the time to take questions, but we will continue to update you on the situation as we go along. Thank you all very much for joining us this morning.-Agencies