Indian Army dropped projectiles in Amritsar: DG ISPR

IslamaBAD: Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, while addressing a press conference with DG ISPR Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, said Pakistan categorically denies any intention or action that would endanger civilian population in Indian Punjab.

He said India In the early hours of May 8 launched a highly provocative and dangerously escalatory attack on its own territory in Amritsar, calling it “a deeply insidious and sinister attack”. He said three projectiles were deliberately dropped off in the capital of Indian Punjab.

The fourth projectile, he said, entered Pakistan airspace and was neutralised by Pakistan’s air defence.

Addressing a presser, Dar revealed that multiple Indian drones had violated Pakistan's airspace, including one that attempted to strike a military installation in Lahore.

"Just 36 hours ago, Pakistan faced a major confrontation, and by the grace of Allah, emerged successful," the foreign minister said, adding, "We assure the nation that we will not let them down in the future either."

Pakistan says it reserves the right to respond to India at a time, place and manner of its choosing, in view of the grave and unlawful Indian aggression of violating Pakistani airspace.

This was stated by Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar while addressing a joint news briefing alongside Director General ISPR Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry in Islamabad this evening.

The Deputy Prime Minister said despite repeated provocations, Pakistan being a responsible state has so far exercised strategic restraint, acted with maturity and limited its response strictly to self defence, in accordance with the international law and the UN Charter.

Ishaq Dar said India today launched a highly provocative and dangerously escalated attack, firing four projectiles targeting Pakistani territory.    

Giving details, he said three projectiles were immediately dropped at Amritsar while the fourth that entered Pak airspace was neutralized by Pakistan's Air defence System and its debris fell in Dinga town inside Pakistan.

He emphasized that the deep-rooted and centuries old cultural affinity between Pakistan and the Sikhs of the Indian Punjab is well known along with the long history of communal persecution of both at the hands of extremist Hindutva majority. He added that Pakistan rejects any intention or action that may endanger civilian population in Indian Punjab.  

Ishaq Dar said this Indian act appears to be a design to falsely implicate Pakistan for targeting Indian civilians and incite anti-Pakistan sentiments among the Punjabi Sikh population to conveniently externalize the rising communal tensions within India.                    

He said Pakistan deeply sympathizes with the Indian Sikh population as their lives were in danger by India's malicious use of projectiles to achieve sinister political ends.

The Deputy Prime Minister said Pakistan remains firmly committed to safeguard innocent lives and regional harmony unlike India's divisive policies. 

Providing details on the Indian drone strikes, Ishaq Dar said several armed Indian drones violated Pakistani airspace by crossing the international border at multiple locations, with the apparent aim of targeting civilians and military installations.

He said that one civilian was martyred, while four armed personnel sustained injuries in the attacks. He also revealed that one of these drones struck the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, the venue of the ongoing PSL in deliberate attempt to target both domestic and foreign cricket players.

However, Ishaq Dar assured that all these drones have been successfully neutralized.

Briefing the media on the latest act of Indian aggression, ISPR Director General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said Pakistan has successfully neutralized 29 drones so far. He assured that any airborne object approaching Pakistan is closely monitored and will be taken down accordingly.

He said India should refrain from creating war hysteria for domestic political purposes. He also condemned the targeting of religious sites, revealing that one of the drones was directed toward Nankana Sahib, a holy place for Sikhs, a move he described as abhorrent and unacceptable.

He further assured that Pakistan will respond at a time and place of its choosing, emphasizing that the world will witness Pakistan’s retaliation.

He said the armed forces of Pakistan are on the highest level of alert.

During the briefing, the debris of neutralized Indian drones was displayed for the media.