India committed to no escalation if Pak reciprocates; Pakistani Deputy PM says recent military response a 'defensive measure'
The Pakistani army's actions constituted provocation, and accordingly, India acted in a measured fashion, Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said during a special briefing on Saturday, and the Foreign Secretary added that India does not want any escalation, provided Pakistan reciprocates, Indian media outlet NDTV reported.
The briefing was led by Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri., Colonel Sofiya Qureshi of the Army and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh of the Indian Air Force (IAF), NDTV reported.
The Pakistani army used drones and other high-calibre weapons to attack India's western front. In total, 26 Indian cities were targeted. India neutralised most of the attacks, the government said at the press briefing, according to NDTV.
India has also rejected Pakistani claims of major damage to its military infrastructure following coordinated cross-border strikes launched overnight, according to another report by NDTV.
Foreign Secretary Misri characterised Pakistan's information campaign as "a tissue of lies," accusing Islamabad of manufacturing falsehoods about damage to Indian critical infrastructure, including airbases and air defence systems.
"Claims have been made about large sections of Indian critical infrastructure, power systems, cyber systems, etc, being attacked and destroyed. These are completely false," Misri said, adding that normalcy had been restored across most of the targeted facilities, according to NDTV report.
Colonel Sofiya Qureshi said India's air defence systems intercepted several projectiles, but admitted that some installations sustained limited damage. India neutralised many dangers, but Pakistan tried to infiltrate via Air at more than 26 places, and they damaged our equipment and personnel at air force bases in Udhampur, Bhuj, Pathankot, Bathinda, she admitted, according to the report.
Previously, Pakistan has launched a major military campaign code-named Operation Bunyanun Marsoos in response to continued Indian provocations, official sources said early Saturday, according to Xinhua.
The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the media wing of the Pakistan army, said in a statement that the operation "Bunyanun Marsoos," meaning concrete structure, has been initiated and that multiple targets are being engaged all across India, Xinhua reported.
Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar stated that Pakistan's armed forces were on high alert and fully prepared in light of recent regional tensions, according to Pakistani media outlet Geo News.
Speaking to Geo News, Dar emphasised that Pakistan could not afford to take any risks and that the recent military response was purely a defensive measure.
"India should stop if there's an iota of sanity. If they stop, so will we. We do not want destruction and waste of funds. You know, both economies are different, but we generally want peace, without the hegemony of any country," Dar told Geo News.
"My recent interactions have been very positive, and I believe that the way for talks will be open now," he added.
According to Geo News, Pakistan's Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal has hoped that India will not de-escalate to move to dialogue and diplomacy.
"We would hate to see that (nuclear) threshold being breached," he said, as reported by Reuters.
Commenting on the situation, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said on Saturday that China is closely following the ongoing situation between India and Pakistan and is deeply concerned about the escalation.
"We strongly urge both sides to act in the larger interest of peace and stability, exercise calm and restraint, return to the track of political settlement through peaceful means, and refrain from any action that could further escalate tensions. This will be important for the fundamental interest of both India and Pakistan, and for a stable and peaceful region. This is also what the international community hopes to see. China is willing to continue to play a constructive role to this end,"the spokesperson said.
Global Times
The briefing was led by Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri., Colonel Sofiya Qureshi of the Army and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh of the Indian Air Force (IAF), NDTV reported.
The Pakistani army used drones and other high-calibre weapons to attack India's western front. In total, 26 Indian cities were targeted. India neutralised most of the attacks, the government said at the press briefing, according to NDTV.
India has also rejected Pakistani claims of major damage to its military infrastructure following coordinated cross-border strikes launched overnight, according to another report by NDTV.
Foreign Secretary Misri characterised Pakistan's information campaign as "a tissue of lies," accusing Islamabad of manufacturing falsehoods about damage to Indian critical infrastructure, including airbases and air defence systems.
"Claims have been made about large sections of Indian critical infrastructure, power systems, cyber systems, etc, being attacked and destroyed. These are completely false," Misri said, adding that normalcy had been restored across most of the targeted facilities, according to NDTV report.
Colonel Sofiya Qureshi said India's air defence systems intercepted several projectiles, but admitted that some installations sustained limited damage. India neutralised many dangers, but Pakistan tried to infiltrate via Air at more than 26 places, and they damaged our equipment and personnel at air force bases in Udhampur, Bhuj, Pathankot, Bathinda, she admitted, according to the report.
Previously, Pakistan has launched a major military campaign code-named Operation Bunyanun Marsoos in response to continued Indian provocations, official sources said early Saturday, according to Xinhua.
The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the media wing of the Pakistan army, said in a statement that the operation "Bunyanun Marsoos," meaning concrete structure, has been initiated and that multiple targets are being engaged all across India, Xinhua reported.
Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar stated that Pakistan's armed forces were on high alert and fully prepared in light of recent regional tensions, according to Pakistani media outlet Geo News.
Speaking to Geo News, Dar emphasised that Pakistan could not afford to take any risks and that the recent military response was purely a defensive measure.
"India should stop if there's an iota of sanity. If they stop, so will we. We do not want destruction and waste of funds. You know, both economies are different, but we generally want peace, without the hegemony of any country," Dar told Geo News.
"My recent interactions have been very positive, and I believe that the way for talks will be open now," he added.
According to Geo News, Pakistan's Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal has hoped that India will not de-escalate to move to dialogue and diplomacy.
"We would hate to see that (nuclear) threshold being breached," he said, as reported by Reuters.
Commenting on the situation, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said on Saturday that China is closely following the ongoing situation between India and Pakistan and is deeply concerned about the escalation.
"We strongly urge both sides to act in the larger interest of peace and stability, exercise calm and restraint, return to the track of political settlement through peaceful means, and refrain from any action that could further escalate tensions. This will be important for the fundamental interest of both India and Pakistan, and for a stable and peaceful region. This is also what the international community hopes to see. China is willing to continue to play a constructive role to this end,"the spokesperson said.
Global Times
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