After India accused Pakistan of attempting to engage military targets in several Indian states overnight, Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR)’s Lt. Gen. Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry outright rejected taking any action that endangers civilian lives.
Addressing a joint press conference with Chaudhry, Dar said Pakistan categorically denies any intention or action that would endanger civilian population in Indian Punjab, especially Amritsar. He alleged that in the early hours of May 8 India had launched a highly provocative and dangerously escalatory attack on its own territory in Amritsar.
“This was a deeply insidious and sinister attack,” he said, alleging it aimed to implicate Pakistan falsely for targeting Indian civilians, as well as inciting anti-Pakistan sentiments among Punjabi Sikhs to “conveniently externalize rising communal tensions within India.”
He maintained that Pakistan, unlike India, remains firmly committed to safeguarding innocent lives and regional harmony. “We deeply empathize with the civilian population of India, particularly the Sikh community of Indian Punjab, as their lives were endangered by India through the malicious use of projectiles, most probably missiles, to achieve sinister political ends,” he added.
The foreign minister alleged three projectiles were deliberately dropped in the capital of Indian Punjab, while a fourth entered Pakistani airspace before being neutralized by Pakistan’s air defense. He said 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,” he said, referring to the Indian attacks on various cities in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir. “We assure the nation that we will not let them down in the future either,” he vowed.
Reiterating that Pakistan’s armed forces had successfully shot down five Indian fighter jets in response to the aggression, he maintained that any misadventure by India would receive a decisive response. Pakistan, he affirmed, is firmly committed to the protection of its citizens.
Also rubbishing the Indian statement, which had claimed the recovery of debris from the so-called attempted attacks in 15 locations, ISPR Director-General Lt. Gen. Chaudhry said the Indian government needs to shift from “theatrics and cinema” to the actual world. He questioned if Delhi was living in the 21st century or the 18th century.
“Because in 21st century, every projectile leaves a digital trace and signature,” he said, as he played video footage showing how security forces track every projectile on their soil. Maintaining that if any object nears Pakistan, it is monitored and has a digital signature, he warned: “You cannot cook up any story you want.”
Categorically rejecting the visuals shared by India as “proof” of supposed strikes, he said they could have at least set fire to the dry fields they are showing. “These are just barren patches—nothing more,” he said, adding Pakistan’s armed forces remain alert and capable and any misadventure by India would meet a forceful response.
Stressing that Pakistan in particular keeps an eye on anything that comes from the East, he said officials had carefully watched the trajectory and height of incoming drones. “The weapons system is there to take it out,” he said, adding one of the projectiles appeared to be a missile. “We are conducting forensics to ascertain that,” he said of the debris from the projectile.
In total, he said, 29 drones were sent into Pakistan today, martyring four Army personnel and three civilians. Additionally, he said, four civilians were injured and an air defense position partially damaged.
“When Pakistan responds [to India], it will be decisive—and the world will not have to rely on Indian media to know what happened,” he added.