ISPR denies 'surgical strikes' by India, says they was only cross border fire

Muzaffarabad/Islamabad [Pakistan], Sept. 29 (ANI): Pakistan has rejected claims that the Indian Army carried out surgical strikes across the Line of Control (LoC). Denying the claims, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said Thursday, "There has been no surgical strike by India, instead there had been cross border fire initiated and conducted by India which is existential phenomenon", reports Geo News. "The notion of surgical strike linked to alleged terrorists bases is an illusion being deliberately generated by Indian to create false effects. This quest by Indian establishment to create media hype by rebranding cross border fire as surgical strike is fabrication of truth. Pakistan has made it clear that if there is a surgical strike on Pakistani soil, same will be strongly responded," said the ISPR in a statement. It however confirmed that two Pakistani soldiers were killed in the crossfire. "Unprovoked firing at the LOC in Kel and Lipa sectors began at 2:30 a.m. and continued till 8:00 a.m." said ISPR. Deputy Commissioner of Neelum Valley Sardar Abdul Waheed Khan has prohibited vehicles near the LOC. Public gathering and unnecessary wandering in the area has been banned. Primary schools in the area have been closed. The statement came after Indian Ministry of External Affairs and the Defence Ministry on in a joint statement announced that the Indian Army had carried out multiple surgical strikes in various locations along the Line of Control late on Wednesday night. India's Director General Military Operations (DGMO) Lt. Gen. Ranbir Singh announced that Indian Army had carried out multiple surgical strikes in the wake of the infiltration bids by terrorists along the Line of Control (LoC), including at Uri and Poonch earlier this month. "Indian Army conducted surgical strikes on terror launch pads on the LoC and significant casualties have been caused," he said adding that the Indian forces have foiled over 20 infiltration bids in the past week. (ANI)