New Delhi, May 8 (UNI) India on Thursday termed as “a blatant lie” the Pakistani leadership’s claim that Indian armed forces had attacked the Neelum-Jhelum hydropower plant in POK and warned that if Islamabad is trying to make it a “pretext” for targeting Indian infrastructure then Pakistan will be entirely responsible for the consequences that will undoubtedly follow.

Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, briefing the media on Operation Sindoor, also denied any contact between the National Security Advisors of India and Pakistan, as has been claimed by the Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar.

He said that besides the directions that were issued on April 23 by the Cabinet Committee on Security – on cutting down ties with Pakistan – “There are no further steps under consideration at this point of time.”

On the Pakistani claims that India had attacked the Neelum-Jhelum plant in Muzaffarabad, he said:

“This is an absolute and complete fabrication, and a blatant lie.”

“India has targeted only and only terrorist infrastructure.”

“I should note that if this kind of a claim is a pretext for targeting Indian infrastructure of a similar nature, Pakistan will be entirely responsible for the consequences that will undoubtedly follow.”

He also said that the Operation Sindoor was India’s response to the terrorist attack.

“India’s response has been precise, controlled and measured. No military targets have been selected. Only terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan has been hit,” he said.

On Pakistani claims that only civilians were killed in the strikes, he said: “We have made the point very clear that all attacks on the morning of 7th May were against carefully selected terrorist infrastructure.”

“Any further action by Pakistan, some of which we are seeing today is nothing but escalation by Pakistan now once again, and will be responded to appropriately,” he added.

UNI RN