India on Thursday strongly condemned Pakistan for allegedly holding “state funerals” for terrorists killed in India’s strikes on terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
In the briefing of Ministry of External Affairs held in New Delhi in the evening, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri showed a photograph of uniformed Pakistani Army and police personnel praying behind the coffins of the slain terrorists.
He questioned what message the image conveyed. In one instance, a Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorist was seen leading the funeral prayers.
“If only civilians were killed in these attacks, I wonder what message this picture actually sends to all of you. This is the question that is worth asking. It’s also odd that the funerals of civilians are carried out with the coffins being draped in Pakistani flags and state honours being accorded,” he said.
Rejecting Pakistan’s claim of civilian casualties, the Foreign Secretary stressed, “As far as we are concerned, the individuals eliminated at these facilities were terrorists. Giving terrorists state funerals may be a practice in Pakistan, but it doesn’t seem to make much sense to us”.
Misri also emphasised that it was Pakistan that has escalated the situation and Pahalgam was the original escalation.
Operation Sindoor is India’s reply to terrorist attack in Pahalgam on April 22. As many as 26 lives were lost.
Past midnight on Tuesday, India Armed Forces attacked nine terror sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
Thereafter, Pakistan tried attacking 15 cities of India, including Bhuj in Gujarat, by missiles and drones. The attempt was foiled by India. In reply, India then hit Pakistan’s air defence units.
In Kutch, there was a suspicious explosion in Dhrobana village near Khavda India Bridge area. The explosion is believed to have taken place following suspected drone striking a high-tension power line.
The security forces in the border district of Kutch are on high alert.
In the cross-border firing, at least 16 civilians have been killed on the Indian side, India confirmed on Thursday.
Earlier in the day, in the all party meeting, the participants were informed that 100 terrorists were killed in strikes on terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
“Pakistan is trying to wash its hands from any and all involvement with terrorism. Pakistani information minister said there are no terrorists in Pakistan, and I think he was challenged in that TV programme that he was appearing on. Pakistan’s reputation as the epicentre of global terrorism is rooted in a number of instances where concrete evidence is available not just to India but governments and authorities around the world,” said Misri, reiterating New Delhi’s accusations of Islamabad sponsoring cross-border terrorism.
Late in the evening, Prime Minister Narendra Modi held high-level meeting with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval.
Also Read: India Foils Pak Missile-Drone Attack, Neutralises Lahore Air Defence https://www.vibesofindia.com/india-foils-pak-missle-drone-attack-neutralises-lahore-air-defence/
