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Vikram MIsri said, “The Pakistani army spokesman seems to take great joy at the fact that Indian public should criticize government of India with regards to various issues.”
Foreign secretary Vikram Misri. (File pic/PTI)
In a pointed critique, Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri directly addressed remarks by the Pakistani army spokesman, highlighting the stark differences in democratic practices between the two nations. Vikram Misri’s comments came amidst escalating tensions and a war of words following recent military incidents.
He stated in a press briefing, “The Pakistani army spokesman seems to take great joy at the fact that the Indian public should criticize the government of India with regards to various issues.”
Accusing the Pakistani military establishment of being out of touch with the norms of democratic governance, the foreign secretary said that civilian oversight and freedom of expression are considered fundamental to democracy in India and at large. He said, “It may be a surprise to Pakistan to see citizens criticizing their own government – that is the hallmark of an open and functioning democracy. Pakistan’s unfamiliarity with that again should not be a surprise.”
At the press briefing, Wing Commander Vyomika Singh delivered a firm statement outlining India’s response to recent escalations by Pakistan. She asserted that the Indian armed forces executed a “swift and calibrated” precision strike, emphasizing that the operation was solely directed at “identified military targets.”
Wing Commander Vyomika Singh addressed what she termed Pakistan’s “continued malicious misinformation campaign” and refuted claims originating from Pakistan regarding the alleged destruction of India’s S-400 air defense system and airfields at Suratgarh and Sirsa. She said, “India unequivocally rejects these false claims being spread by Pakistan.”
Furthermore Colonel Sofiya Qureshi strongly condemned Pakistan’s actions, describing them as “condemnable and unprofessional.” She said that Pakistani forces had targeted hospitals and school premises located at air bases in Srinagar, Awantipur, and Udhampur. She asserted that these actions “once again revealed their irresponsible tendency of attacking civil infrastructure,” portraying this as a recurring pattern of behavior by Pakistan.
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