New Delhi: India did not attack civilians or strike at religious structures during Op Sindoor, Indian foreign secretary Vikram Misri said at a media briefing on Thursday evening. He was responding to charges by Pakistan on these two mattere.
He also refuted allegations that India had attempted to strike the Neelum Jhelum dam in Muzaffarabad, Pakistan-Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK).
“We acted in a very restrained and responsible manner. Our targets were terrorist establishments. No civilian or military locations were targeted. All those killed or injured in the strikes carried out by us were terrorists. Now, it is another matter altogether that the coffins of the dead terrorists were draped in Pakistani flags and given a traditional military send-off. If their country wants to treat terrorists that way, we have nothing to say. For us, they were terrorists,” Misri said.
On the issue of the attack on religious structures, the foreign secretary said: “They were not religious structures. They were terrorist hideouts. It is sad if they wish to use such structures in that manner. In fact, it is Pakistan that is carrying out attacks on religious lines. Last night, they fired on a Gurudwara in Poonch, Jammu and Kashmir, and attacked Sikhs. Three members of the community were killed. So far 16 Indian lives have been lost to unprovoked cross-border firing.”
In this context, he also highlighted Pakistan Army chief Gen Asim Munir’s recent speech in which he said how Muslims are different from Hindus. He also pointed to the fact that the terrorists in Pahalgam ascertained the religious identities of their victims before shooting them in their heads.
According to him, India is merely responding to escalations being made by Pakistan. He referred to Pakistan’s demand for evidence and a joint inquiry after the Pahalgam terror strike that claimed the lives of 26 persons on April 22.
“In the past, Pakistan sought evidence for the Mumbai terror attacks of 2008 and the 2019 Pulwama strike. We furnished all details, including call records, and even addresses. In the end nothing happened. It turned out that Pakistan was using the material provided by us to absolve themselves of the charges. Hence, there was no question of sharing any information with Pakistan after the Pahalgam terror attack. It was they who escalated the situation and we responded in a very mature and restrained manner. There was an attempt to escalate matters today as well and we again responded appropriately,” Misri said, refusing to go into operational details.
For the first time, the Government made its stand clear on the Indus Waters Treaty. According to Misri, India has been asking Pakistan to renegotiate the original terms of the treaty for two-and-a-half years, but to no avail.
“The treaty was signed 65 years ago and India has been honouring it despite several aggressions by Pakistan. Several things have changed over the last 65 years. Engineering models have changed, land pattern has changed and even the climate has changed. Renegotiations are needed because of this. Pakistan does not seem interested. Rather they have interfered whenever we tried to make changes on the eastern rivers over which we have full right. After the Pahalgam attack, it was finally decided to keep the treaty in abeyance till Pakistan changes its stance on terrorism,” the foreign secretary said.
When asked about untrue claims being made by Pakistani leaders, including their prime minister, deputy prime minister, defence minister and foreign minister, Misri said: “Pakistan is a country that was born on the basis of an untruth. In 1947, when they staked claim on Kashmir, they told the United Nations that they were not involved in the attacks. They claimed it was the handwork of the tribals. Later, an inspection by the UN revealed that Pakistani troops were fighting to grab Kashmir.”
