Pakistan Stands Firm Against India

Islamabad has strongly refuted India’s recent claims that Pakistan was responsible for launching attacks in Pathankot, Jaisalmer, and Srinagar, calling the allegations “baseless and irresponsible” and accusing India of using them for political motives. According to a statement from Pakistan’s Foreign Office released on Friday, the allegations were part of a “reckless propaganda campaign” aimed at tarnishing Pakistan’s image and inflaming tensions in the region. The Foreign Office asserted that India’s pattern of leveling accusations against Pakistan without conducting credible investigations was part of a deliberate strategy to fabricate a pretext for aggression and further destabilize the region.

India’s claims came after Pakistan responded to an unprovoked attack by India on the night of May 8, which Islamabad labeled as a “blatant act of war.” During the attack, six locations in Pakistan, including mosques and hydropower projects, were targeted, leading to the martyrdom of at least 31 civilians and the injury of 57 others. The affected locations included Ahmedpur East, Muridke, Sialkot, and Shakkargarh in Punjab, and Muzaffarabad and Kotli in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK). In response, Pakistan’s military launched countermeasures, shooting down five Indian Air Force (IAF) jets, including three Rafale fighters, one MiG-29, and one SU-30. The military also destroyed several drones, a brigade headquarters, and multiple check posts along the Line of Control (LoC).

Pakistan’s Foreign Office issued a stern warning, stating that India’s tactics, which involve spreading false accusations, not only risk peace in South Asia but also demonstrate a troubling willingness to exploit misinformation for military or political gains. Pakistan called on the international community to take note of India’s actions and to encourage restraint. Islamabad further emphasized that any escalation based on these false pretenses would be met with Pakistan’s full resolve and determination to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The government reiterated its commitment to peace, but made it clear that it would not be intimidated by efforts to provoke, mislead, or intimidate it. Pakistan asserted that it reserves the right to respond to any acts of aggression, and stressed that it would not be deterred by attempts to destabilize the region through false allegations. The country has repeatedly urged global powers to hold India accountable for its actions, urging the international community to urge India toward restraint.

Earlier in the day, Pakistan’s civil and military leadership also publicly rejected India’s claims. Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, Director General of the Inter-Services Public Relations (DG ISPR), addressed the media, categorically dismissing India’s accusations of Pakistani attacks on 15 locations across India. He labeled these claims as “utterly false” and accused India of fabricating evidence to justify its military actions. Chaudhry ridiculed the images presented by India as supposed evidence of Pakistani projectiles, stating that the nature of these images was laughable. He pointed out that a projectile of the nature India claimed to have intercepted would have at least caused a fire in dry grass, but the images showed no such damage.

Chaudhry further questioned the credibility of India’s narrative, pointing to the failure of Indian air defenses to prevent the destruction of five of its jets by the Pakistan Air Force. He pointed out the contradiction in India’s claims, asking, “If India claims it neutralized 15 projectiles, why couldn’t it save its own five jets from being shot down by the Pakistan Air Force?” The DG ISPR mocked India’s assertions of successfully intercepting 15 projectiles, asking why its air defenses had not been able to protect its aircraft, which were easily shot down in the Pakistani counteroffensive.

Pakistan’s response to the situation has been firm and resolute, focusing on defending its sovereignty while calling on the international community to recognize the dangers posed by India’s actions. Islamabad has reiterated that its actions are in defense of its territorial integrity and that it will continue to take necessary measures to safeguard its citizens and national security. Despite the challenges posed by India’s provocations, Pakistan has vowed to maintain its stance on peace, while ensuring that it is prepared for any escalation in hostilities. The growing tensions between the two nuclear-armed nations are a cause for international concern, and the situation remains fluid as diplomatic efforts continue to unfold.