India has forcefully countered Pakistan's claims of inflicting damage on Indian Air Force installations through missile strikes, calling them “completely false” and part of a broader disinformation campaign orchestrated by Islamabad. The rebuttal came during a detailed media briefing on Saturday led by senior defence and foreign affairs officials, accompanied by time-stamped photographic evidence.
Key Developments:
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Visual Evidence Disproves Pakistan's Claims:The Indian government released photographs taken at 10:45 am—just before the press conference—showing undamaged and operational air force bases in Sirsa (Haryana), Suratgarh (Rajasthan), and Azamgarh (Uttar Pradesh). These visuals directly refuted Pakistan’s assertions that these bases had been destroyed or incapacitated.
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Official Rebuttal from Foreign Secretary:Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri categorically dismissed the Pakistani claims, saying:
“The claim about Air Force stations at Sirsa, Suratgarh, Azamgarh being destroyed is completely false… Pakistan is peddling these lies for obvious purposes.”
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Air Force’s Precision Strikes and Countermeasures:Wing Commander Vyomika Singh provided a clear picture of India’s measured response, stating:“In a swift and calibrated response, Indian armed forces carried out a precision strike only at identified military targets in Pakistan.”These included radar installations, command centres, technical assets, and ammunition depots—not civilian areas—further demonstrating India’s targeted and restrained approach.
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Pakistani Misinformation Claims Debunked:Pakistan had earlier claimed destruction of:
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India’s S-400 air defence system
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BrahMos base at Nagrota
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Airfields at Sirsa and Suratgarh
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Artillery gun positions
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Ammunition depot in Chandigarh
Wing Commander Singh dismissed these claims as completely baseless and part of a "continued malicious misinformation campaign."
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Missile Debris in Indian Territory:Despite these falsehoods, the Indian military confirmed that missile and drone debris was recovered in:
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Sirsa (Haryana)
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Barmer (Rajasthan)
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Jalandhar (Punjab)Additionally, a Fateh-II missile fired by Pakistan at a sensitive location in Sirsa was successfully intercepted by Indian defence systems.
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Troop Movements and Readiness:Pakistani troop movements to forward positions indicate a potential intent to escalate. However, Wing Commander Singh reiterated India’s readiness:
“Indian armed forces remain in a high state of operational readiness. All hostile actions have been effectively countered.”
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India’s Stance on Escalation:India reaffirmed its commitment to non-escalation, but made it clear that this is conditional on reciprocity from Pakistan.
India’s clear messaging—backed by satellite imagery, field reports, and official briefings—shows its dual-track approach of firm military resolve and diplomatic transparency, while calling out Pakistan’s information warfare tactics.
