New Delhi: In a strongly worded statement, Foreign Office spokesperson Vikram Misri criticized Pakistan, stating it has a long-standing habit of spreading falsehoods since its inception. Speaking at a press briefing on Thursday, Misri responded to Pakistan's recent claims of downing Indian aircraft and allegations that India intended to target the Neelum-Jhelum dam, calling them “completely fabricated and baseless.”

Misri clarified that India’s actions were limited to neutralizing terrorist launch pads and had no intention of targeting civilian infrastructure. He emphasized that these allegations are not only false but also damaging to Pakistan's own credibility. According to him, such narratives are part of a predictable pattern, and India, over the last 75 years, has become accustomed to Pakistan's misinformation tactics.

The spokesperson also firmly dismissed reports suggesting that security advisors from both nations had been in contact. He said Pakistan initiated aggression, and India's response was in defense, underscoring that any future provocation would be met with decisive retaliation.

Misri further noted that the terrorists eliminated in India’s counterstrike were draped in Pakistani flags, a symbolic detail he said exposed Islamabad’s ongoing patronage of extremist elements. He accused Pakistan of targeting Indian civilians, particularly Sikhs, referencing a recent attack in Jammu and Kashmir and a gurdwara in Poonch, which resulted in the deaths of 16 Indians and injuries to many others.

He reiterated India's long-standing position that Pakistan remains a global hub for terrorism. Drawing attention to Pakistan’s past actions, Misri pointed to its harboring of Osama bin Laden and its public framing of him as a martyr, despite his status as a globally designated terrorist. He concluded that Pakistan continues to support individuals and groups identified as threats by the United Nations and the international community, undermining regional stability and global security.