'Deranged fantasy': MEA rejects Pakistan's claim that India targeting its own cities

NEW DELHI: The ministry of external affairs has rejected Pakistan's claims that Indian Armed Forces were attacking its own cities calling it a "deranged fantasy" and an attempt to spread disinformation about the ongoing situation at the borders."Instead of owning up to its actions, Pakistan made the preposterous and outrageous claims that it is the Indian armed forces that is targeting its own cities like Amritsar and trying to blame Pakistan... They are well-versed in such actions as their history would show," foreign secretary Vikram Misri said during a press briefing on Friday."In addition, that we would attack our own cities, is the kind of deranged fantasy that only the Pakistanis can come up with," he added.Misri also addressed Pakistani claims that India targeted Nankama Sahib Gurdwara through a drone attack calling it an attempt to communal discord in the country."Pakistan spread disinformation that India targeted the Nankama Sahib Gurdwara through a drone attack, which is yet another blatant lie... Pakistan is trying desperately to impart a communal hue to the situation with an intention to create a communal discord," he said.The briefing came after Pakistan targeted several cities in Jammu and Punjab on Thursday night using drones and missiles which were intercepted by the Indian Army. The neighbouring nation's action were in retaliation to Operation Sindoor that targeted nine terrorist sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.Pakistan's actions were termed "escalatory" in nature while the MEA maintained that its actions were "non-escalatory and measured". "These provocative and escalatory actions taken by Pakistan last night were targeted at Indian cities and civilian infrastructure in addition to military establishments. Indian armed forces responded proportionately, adequately, and responsibly... The official and blatantly farsical denial of these attacks that Pakistan carried out, by the Pakistani state machinery is another example of their duplicity and the new depths, they are plumbing to," Misri said.Operation Sindoor came in retaliation to Pahalgam attack that killed 25 Indians and one Nepalese citizen on April 22. Since then, India-Pakistan relations have deteriorated significantly leading to several casualties on both sides.