–ISPR DG says Pakistan will take foreign diplomats, media persons to areas along LoC to reveal the facts before the world
–Says Indians have no grounds to support the false claims made by their army chief
ISLAMABAD: Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General (DG) Major General Asif Ghafoor has said that Indians have no grounds to support the false claims made by their army chief and Pakistan will take foreign diplomats and media persons today on those given locations to reveal the facts before the world.
His comments come a day after Pakistan rebuffed New Delhi’s claims of destroying alleged terror camps in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) and invited an Indian delegation to see the truth with their own eyes.
On Monday, Dr Faisal tweeted, “Indian Embassy has yet not responded to offer made by DG ISPR. It indicates that they have no grounds to support false claim by their COAS. We expect them to respond soon.”
To this, Major General Ghafoor replied, “Indians have no grounds to support false claim made by their COAS. If they don’t want to go they have the option to share claimed targeted locations with our foreign office. We will take foreign diplomats & media tomorrow on those given locations. Let all see facts on ground.”
Earlier in the day, reports claimed that Pakistan has invited Indian Deputy High Commissioner Gaurav Ahluwalia for a visit to areas along the Line of Control (LoC) to dispel New Delhi’s claims of destroying alleged terror camps in AJK.
According to the reports, Ahluwalia has been invited along with other heads of diplomatic missions to give them a first-hand account of the ground situation at the LoC.
Pakistan inviting an Indian envoy to tour its side of the LoC would always be a major development but the move holds even greater significance at a time when tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbors are at a peak, the report said.
The move comes a day after nine Indian soldiers were killed and several others injured after Pakistan Army “effectively responded” to India’s unprovoked ceasefire violations along the LoC in which five innocent civilians were martyred.
Following Sunday’s violent exchange, the Foreign Office had categorically rejected Indian media reports regarding “so-called launchpads” being targeted by Indian forces along the LoC.
SA & SAARC Director General Dr Mohammad Faisal summoned Ahluwalia to register a protest over the unprovoked ceasefire violations.
“The Indian occupation forces, along the LoC and Working Boundary, have continuously been targeting civilian populated areas with artillery fire, heavy calibre mortars, and automatic weapons,” read an FO statement.
“Heinous Indian targeting of civilians is a typical attempt by India to divert international attention from the humanitarian nightmare in IOJ&K [Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir],” it added.
As for the targeting of “so-called launchpads”, Pakistan called upon the five permanent United Nations members, or P5, to press New Delhi for proof and concrete information.
Islamabad also conveyed its willingness to arrange a visit of P5 diplomats to the alleged locations “to expose Indian falsehood”.
Late on Sunday night, ISPR DG Major General Asif Ghafoor had also issued a statement rejecting India’s assertions.
“The statement of Indian COAS claiming destruction of three alleged camps in AJK is disappointing as he holds a very responsible position. There are no camps let alone targeting them. The Indian embassy is welcome to take any foreign diplomat/media to prove it on ground,” he had said.
“The propensity of false claims by senior Indian military leadership, especially since the Pulwama incident, is detrimental to peace in the region. Such false claims by Indian Army are being made to suit vested interests. This is against professional military ethics,” he had added.
