Indian allegations concerning Pakistan’s complicity in a drone attack in Occupied Jammu and Kashmir were denounced as “irresponsible” by the Foreign Office on Wednesday.
“Pakistan categorically rejects the irresponsible and misleading statement by Indian Minister of State for Home Affairs G. Kishan Reddy regarding an alleged drone attack in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir,” the FO said.
Mr Reddy had earlier said that Pakistan’s role could not be ruled out in the Jammu Air Force station attack.
On Sunday, the Indian Air Force reported two low-intensity explosions in the technical sector of the disputed territory’s Jammu Air Force Station.
Indian security officials later stated that the attack was carried out using explosive-laden drones.
Mr. Reddy stated that an investigation was underway.According to the Foreign Office, India is making severe claims against Pakistan without presenting any proof.
“This is yet another manifestation of the unsubstantiated propaganda and smear campaign against Pakistan that is characteristic of the Indian government and an obliging Indian media,” the FO maintained in a statement.
“This is a familiar Indian ploy to externalise any blame, use baseless allegations against Pakistan as a smokescreen, and seek to undermine the indigenous struggle for self-determination of the Kashmiri people,” it added.
The FO observed that the drone attack allegations confirmed Pakistan’s fears about the BJP government staging “false flag” operations to malign Pakistan with terrorism-related allegations for narrow political gains.
“The use of Pakistan card either to win an election or to divert attention from an electoral defeat has also unfortunately become a standard practice,” it maintained, calling on Delhi to stop the “reprehensible propaganda campaign”.
“No amount of Indian falsehood can succeed in diverting the attention from India’s serious crimes in IIOJK,” the FO said.