Pakistan targeting civilians in Jammu and Kashmir, lame attempts to divide India: Govt

India-Pak Conflict: India on Saturday accused Pakistan of targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure, especially in Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab. There is also a consistent attempt to sow discord between communities in India, Foreign Secretary, Vikram Misri said.

“There has been a particular focus in its targetting of civilian infrastructure and the population in Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab,” Misri said during the special briefing on Saturday.

People in Srinagar and Jammu cities of Jammu and Kashmir woke up to loud explosions on Saturday morning as military tensions between India and Pakistan are escalating after the deadly Pahalgam terror attack. The explosions were again heard in Srinagar around noon.

"Earlier this morning, Pakistan shelled the town of Rajouri, killing the Additional District Development Commissioner Raj Kumar Thapa adding to the civilian casualties and the damage in that state..."

India fired missiles: PAK

Pakistan claimed that India has fired missiles at three of its air bases. But most of the missiles were intercepted and that retaliatory strikes on India were underway, it said as reported by news agency AP. '

“We have also observed overnight damage to property and civilians in Ferozpur and Jalandhar among other places,” Misri said.

He also said Pakistani officials made ludicurious claims about India firing missiles towards Sri Amritsar Sahib." As I said these are lame attempts to divide India and are doomed to fail," Misri said.

Friday and Saturday’s attack by Pakistan and counter-offensive by India comes days after India destroyed nine terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). The strike by India, coined Operation Sindoor, came two weeks after the Pahalgam terror attack inJammu and Kashmir, in which 26 people, mostly tourists, were killed on 22 April.

On Saturday (IST), US Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar Rubio and to Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to discuss the ongoing situation.

“He expressed US support for direct dialogue between India and Pakistan and encouraged continued efforts to improve communications,” US State Department said in a statement.

(With agency inputs)