In the wake of ongoing cross-border firing by Pakistani soldiers along the Line of Control (LoC), India on Friday criticized Islamabad strongly for firing at religious sites, calling the act "a new low even for Pakistan."
Referring to a special media briefing on Operation Sindoor held in New Delhi, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said, "We have seen the Pakistani side attacking and shelling places of worship with a clear intent, including gurdwaras, churches and temples. This is a new low even for Pakistan."
Attacks on Religious and Civilian Sites
Misri cited a number of recent attacks, including the bombing of a Gurdwara in Poonch that claimed the lives of a number of local Sikh citizens, including Ragi of the Gurdwara. He also highlighted targeting of Christian educational institutions, which are contrary to Pakistan's assurance that it doesn't target religious sites.
Describing one of the tragic events from May 7, Misri revealed: "We do have some information about this very regrettable and condemnable incident." During heavy shelling at the Line of Control at dawn on 7th May, a Pakistani shell landed just behind Carmelites of the Mary Immaculate Congregation's Christ School in Poonch. Unfortunately, the Pakistani shell landed on the house of two Christ School students. Both the students died, and their parents got seriously hurt.
He also reported further damage to another Christian facility: "Another Pakistani shell landed in a Christian Convent of Nuns of the Congregation of Mother of Carmel, damaging water tanks and obliterating solar panel infrastructure. The school staff, some priests, nuns, school staff and local citizens had taken refuge in an underground hall beneath the school during the shelling from Pakistan. The school happened to be fortunate that it was closed at the time otherwise there would have been more destruction."
Army Threatens Retaliation, Blasts Pakistani Denials
The Indian Army, meanwhile, condemned the civilian killings in Poonch and threatened to endure stern retaliation for such belligerent actions. Pakistani forces maintained their "provocative and escalatory actions" during Thursday night, spreading their activities to civilian targets and urban areas of India, reports said.
Misri denounced Pakistan's denials of the attacks as insincere. "The official and patently farcical denial of these attacks by Pakistan, emanating from the Pakistani state machinery, is yet another example of their duplicity and the new depths to which they are descending in their pursuit of disinformation," he said.
Read also| CJI Forwards Justice Varma Indictment Report to President and PM
