India claims Pakistani attack; Islamabad denies, says attacks ‘stage-managed’
Pakistani officials said radar logs and ground intelligence did not detect any outbound operations from Pakistan’s territory
NEW DELHI/ISLAMABAD (MNTV) — Hours after India claimed that Pakistan had targeted military installations in 15 cities, Islamabad denied launching any such assault, calling it a “stage-managed drama” by New Delhi aimed at provoking conflict and misleading the international community.
The Indian Ministry of Defense announced Thursday morning that multiple military sites across northern and western India—including Amritsar, Pathankot, Kapurthala, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Bhatinda, Chandigarh, Uttarlai, Bhuj, and key bases in Jammu and Srinagar—were hit in a coordinated overnight strike using drones and guided missiles.
India claimed its integrated air defense systems intercepted several threats and are now analysing debris to determine the strikes’ origin. The government framed the assault as retaliation for Operation SINDOOR, an Indian air campaign earlier this week that reportedly targeted non-military infrastructure inside Pakistan.
But just hours later, Pakistan rejected the Indian account entirely. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said Islamabad had not launched any cross-border attacks, and called the alleged strikes a “stage-managed spectacle” aimed at justifying further Indian aggression.
“These claims are fabricated, baseless, and dangerous,” Dar said at a press briefing in Islamabad. “Pakistan did not carry out any such operation. India is trying to create a false narrative to escalate tensions. Let me be clear: Pakistan reserves the right to respond—but at a time and place of its choosing.”
Military spokesperson Lt. Gen. Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry also denied Pakistan’s involvement, accusing India of staging the attacks for domestic optics and strategic misdirection. “This is an attempt by India to cover up its own violations of Pakistani airspace. If provoked, Pakistan will respond — but not on their timeline,” he said.
Pakistani officials said radar logs and ground intelligence did not detect any outbound operations from Pakistan’s territory and described India’s statements as a pretext to internationalize a conflict of its own making.
Earlier unnamed defense sources in Islamabad had hinted at a “measured response” to India’s Operation SINDOOR, which reportedly struck sensitive Pakistani logistics and radar infrastructure.
However, the official statements now suggest that any such retaliation has not yet taken place, and will come at the choice and timing of Pakistan army.
Pakistan is preparing to lodge a formal complaint at the United Nations, with Foreign Minister Dar expected to raise the matter in multilateral forums. Select diplomatic missions in Islamabad have already been briefed on Pakistan’s position.
Meanwhile, India has said it is committed to a “non-escalatory posture,” while reserving the right to defend its territory. Pakistan says, since its borders have been breached, it reserves the right to respond.
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