NEW DELHI: The government on Saturday firmly rejected Pakistan’s claims about targeting Indian infrastructure, describing them as part of an “attempted malicious misinformation campaign.” Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, during a special briefing by the ministry of external affairs and ministry of defence on Operation Sindoor, also dismissed all allegations made by Islamabad regarding damage to military infrastructure.“The claims that they have made about attacking various military installations are completely false. The claim about the air station in Sirsa being destroyed completely false. The claim about the air station in Surat—completely false…. These are lies about critical infrastructure, power systems and cyberstructures,” Misri said. “I urge all who watch this not to be misled by the tissue of lies being peddled by Pakistan.”“There is this yet again completely ludicrous claim that Indian mailers 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,” he added.Misri also made it clear that the provocation had come from Pakistan. “It is the Pakistani act that constituted provocation and escalation,” he further said.Wing Commander Vyomika Singh added that “in a swift and calibrated response, Indian armed forces carried out a precision strike only at identified military targets.” She also denounced the “continued malicious misinformation campaign” by PakistanEarlier today, Forces struck at least four Pakistani airbases in the early hours of Saturday, news agency ANI reported, citing government sources. The retaliatory action followed a wave of drone attacks by Pakistan on 26 Indian locations from Jammu and Kashmir to Gujarat. The ministry of Defence confirmed that several of the drones, some armed, targeted military and civilian sites. Indian forces remain on high alert, deploying counter-drone systems and urging civilians in border areas to stay indoors and follow safety guidelines. Explosions and property damage were reported in Udhampur, Rajouri, Akhnoor, and rural Jalandhar. A local woman in Jalandhar described a red flash and a powerful blast that damaged rooftops and water tanks during a blackout.
