India’s lies unmasked

Pakistan gives diplomatic corps, media tour of site where New Delhi claims destroying ‘terror launch pads’

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Tuesday arranged a visit of the diplomatic corps in Islamabad along with national and international media-persons by helicopter to the site of the recent ceasefire violations by India in order to expose its claims of destroying alleged “terror launch pads”.

Indian Deputy High Commissioner Gaurav Ahluwalia was also invited for the visit but neither he nor any official of the Indian diplomatic mission responded to the offer.

According to a statement issued by the Foreign Office, the Indian High Commission in Islamabad was requested to share details, including longitude and latitude, of the alleged targeted location to back New Delhi’s allegations.

“No response has been received so far from India,” the statement added.

Three civilians and one soldier were martyred, while two soldiers and five civilians were injured when Indian forces violated the ceasefire agreement and deliberately targeted civilian population in Jura, Shahkot, Nousehri sectors along the LoC on October 20.

Pakistani troops effectively and precisely targeted Indian military positions, killing nine Indian soldiers and decimating two of their bunkers.

The Pakistani move of giving the diplomatic corps and the media teams a tour of the site came after the Indian army chief alleged that the recent ceasefire violations were a result of targeting “launch pads/terrorist camps” on the Pakistani side of the Line of Control – a claim which the FO described as a “baseless and fallacious statement”.

The diplomatic corps and media teams were taken to the LoC, including Jura, to witness firsthand fallacy of Indian claims.

They personally observed the destruction of life and property resulting from the recent Indian ceasefire violations, including use of heavy artillery.

They also visited the injured at the hospital in Muzaffarabad.

The Indian High Commission officials in Islamabad were also invited but did not show up.

FO spokesperson Dr Muhammad Faisal said, “The irresponsible allegations of the Indian army chief and the lack of response from India when asked to back its hollow assertions with details of the alleged ‘launch pads/terrorist camps’ not only expose the lies and deceit being employed as state policy but the Indian aggressive posture which is a growing threat to regional peace and stability.”

The spokesperson said, “The visit further exposed Indian falsehood to the international community and the desperate attempts being made by India to divert international attention from the humanitarian nightmare in Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir.”

Faisal made it clear that Pakistan does not harbor any aggressive designs but “our armed forces and people remain ready to defend the country against any acts of aggression.”

Talking to the media after visiting the civilian areas bombed by Indian border forces, Malaysian Deputy High Commissioner Deddy Feisal said, “There is no evidence of any terrorist camp in this area. They are all ordinary people and ordinary civilians trying to make their living.”

Ambassador of Bosnia Sakib Foric said, “I have a special feeling when I see that civilians were targeted here and unfortunately with some casualties, and I could see that the people are patriots and have special feelings and they have hosted us and are open to tell what has happened really.”

The foreign diplomats were shown the damages done to villages along the LoC by Indian shelling.

“Indian forces are openly against all principles of civility and humanity,” said Chirsto Janse Van, the acting high commissioner of South Africa.

China’s ambassador also spoke about the sufferings of the Kashmiri people, which, he said, makes it all the more important for the international community to help resolve this festering dispute.

“Along with my colleagues I saw the damages, sufferings, injuries by local people here. These people are suffering and that is why I think Kashmir dispute is more and more important for the international community to pay attention to, and also for India and Pakistan to find a peaceful solution according to UN resolutions,” said Chinese Ambassador Yao Jing.