Pakistan denies Indian claims of attacks and downed jets, calls reports 'fake'

Pakistan on Friday categorically rejected what it called "Indian media spreading disinformation" dismissing allegations of drone strikes in Kashmir, fighter jets being shot down, and the capture of a Pakistani pilot. Officials in Islamabad described the claims as a deliberate attempt to justify aggression against Pakistan.

The Government of Pakistan's Foreign Office on Thursday firmly rejected what it called “baseless and irresponsible” allegations from Indian media, accusing Pakistan of launching attacks in Pathankot, Jaisalmer, and Srinagar.

The Foreign Office said these claims were “entirely unfounded, politically motivated, and part of a reckless propaganda campaign aimed at maligning Pakistan.”

The statement, issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, criticized India for repeatedly leveling accusations “without any credible investigation.”

“This reflects a deliberate strategy to manufacture a pretext for aggression and to further destabilize the region,” the statement read.

Pakistani officials warned that such actions could threaten regional peace and security. “These actions reveal a disturbing willingness to exploit misinformation for political and military ends,” it added.

Islamabad also called on the international community to take “serious note of this dangerous behavior” and to counsel India toward “restraint and responsibility.”

“Any escalation based on pretenses will be met with full resolve and determination to safeguard Pakistan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” the government warned.

The Foreign Office reaffirmed that while Pakistan remains committed to peace, it “will not be deterred by attempts to provoke, intimidate, or mislead.”

“These allegations are rejected in the strongest possible terms.”

Reports of blasts in Jammu

Blasts rang out across the city of Jammu in Indian-administered Kashmir late on Thursday during what Indian military sources said they suspected was a Pakistani drone attack across the region on the second day of clashes between the nuclear-armed neighbors.

Sirens sounded and red flashes and projectiles could be seen in the night sky above the city, a Reuters journalist said. Several parts of Jammu and the surrounding towns of Akhnoor, Samba and Kathua came under attack, said an Indian official who asked not to be named.

"Our army installations are under attack, it is happening in five districts of Jammu (region)," a security official told Reuters.

There was no immediate official comment from Pakistan on what appeared to be an escalation in the countries' worst confrontation in more than two decades.

Retaliation 'increasingly certain'

Pakistan's Defense Minister, Khawaja Muhammad Asif, had earlier said further retaliation was "increasingly certain" after both countries accused each other of launching drone attacks.

India said it hit nine "terrorist infrastructure" sites in Pakistan on Wednesday in retaliation for what it says was a deadly Islamabad-backed attack in Indian-administered Kashmir on April 22.

Pakistan says it was not involved and denied that any of the sites hit by India were militant bases. It said it shot down five Indian aircraft on Wednesday, a report the Indian embassy in Beijing dismissed as "misinformation".

Shot down 2 Pakistan planes, says India

India TV News reported that Indian forces had shot down a Pakistani F-16 fighter jet near Sargodha air base, as well as a JF-17, claiming Pakistan had attempted to attack multiple locations in India on Thursday.

The Indian report also stated that their air defense systems had successfully intercepted "intruding drones" during the alleged Pakistani offensive.

The war of words intensified as Pakistan's Information Minister Attaullah Tarar directly refuted these claims, stating: "Absurd and false claims being made by India about shooting down an F16 and JF17 fighter jets," calling the reports of Pakistani attacks in Jammu "fake and concocted stories".

In another tweet, Tarar insisted Thursday that Pakistan "has not targeted any locations" in Kashmir or across the border and denied any PAF losses. He accused Indian media of spreading "disinformation" to hide their "embarrassing losses" during what he called "unprovoked aggression" on May 6-7, emphasizing Pakistan had only given a "defensive response."

The Information Minister also explicitly denied that any Pakistani pilot had been taken into custody, dismissing these reports as fabrications by Indian media.

Drone warfare escalates

In a late-night tweet on Thursday, Tarar announced "Pakistan Air Defence has successfully shot down another Harop drone in Bahawalnagar."

This came after the Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations (DG ISPR) had already confirmed that Pakistan shot down 29 Indian drones as of late Thursday, suggesting the Bahawalnagar drone was an additional interception.

Pakistan said earlier on Thursday it had shot down 25 drones from India overnight, while India said its air defenses had stopped Pakistani drone and missile attacks on military targets.