Pakistan claims of Indian missiles hitting Afghanistan ludicrous, says Misri

NEW DELHI: While the Indian Army and IAF denied Pakistani claims of having inflicted heavy damage upon Indian military installations , the govt called out Pakistan for alleging Indian missiles hit Afghanistan, with foreign secretary Vikram Misri recalling Islamabad's own track record of attacking civilians in the country.

Misri also hit out at Pakistan army for targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure in J&K and Punjab and for its attempts to sow division by repeatedly claiming that India had fired missiles at Shri Amritsar Sahib.

"There is this completely ludicrous claim that Indian missiles have hit Afghanistan. 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," the foreign secretary said. He was referring to the recent Pakistani air strikes inside Afghanistan against attacks launched by the Pakistan Taliban allegedly from Afghan soil.

The official also slammed Pakistan for rejoicing over criticism of the Indian govt by Indian nationals over "various issues".

"It may be a surprise to Pakistan to see citizens criticising their own govt. That is the hallmark of an open and functioning democracy. Pakistan's unfamiliarity with that, again, should not be surprising," Misri said.

The foreign secretary stressed how Pakistan continues with its "execrable and wanton" campaign of targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure, especially in J&K and Punjab. There was also a consistent attempt on Pakistan's part to sow discord between communities in India, he 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 Raj Kumar Thapa, adding to the civilian casualties and the damage in that state," Misri said, highlighting overnight damage to property and injuries to civilians in Ferozepur and Jalandhar, among other places. He said Pakistan's ludicrous claims about India firing missiles towards Shri Amritsar Sahib and other such lame attempts to divide India were doomed to fail.