Pakistan using Islam as a facade, targeting civilians to fuel division in India: Owaisi

NEW DELHI: AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Saturday strongly condemned Pakistan’s continued support to cross-border terrorism and called for national unity in combating such acts.On being asked about Pakistan’s recent attacks on civilian territories, Owaisi told ANI, “This is what Pakistan has always been doing and this is what Pakistan will continue to do.”He expressed his views on Pakistan trying to divide Indian society based on religion saying, "It is the deep state of Pakistan that only uses Islam as a facade to cover their illegal activities, to cover their promotion of terrorism."He emphasised the growing unity among Indians against terrorism, saying, “This time around the unity and the unanimity I'm seeing in our country against Pakistan sponsored terrorism is tremendous.”“All the tricks and all the deviousness which Pakistan possesses which are trying to create differences, it will not work this time around.The country is united in ensuring that. We must put an end to this Pakistan sponsored terrorism in India,” he added.Citing specific incidents, Owaisi referred to recent shelling in border areas: “The Poonch which is a border village, due to Pakistani army shelling sixteen people have lost their lives. And in that sixteen there were four small children whose ages were less than 10 years. An imam of Masjid Maulana was killed in that firing. A Sikh Gurdwara was damaged. Their houses were damaged. People were lying injured on the roads.”He also noted the assassination of a senior official: “Now one additional Deputy collector, a civil servant was assassinated in Rajouri. You are sending drones which are killing common people. They have damaged a hospital in Srinagar, a hospital in Jammu.”Meanwhile, India categorically rejected Pakistan's “malicious misinformation campaign,” which falsely claimed the destruction of Indian military assets.Addressing a joint press briefing by the ministry of external affairs and ministry of defence, Wing Commander Vyomika Singh said, “Along the Line of Control, Pakistan has also attempted multiple air intrusions using drones and conducted shelling using heavy-calibre artillery guns, threatening civilians' infrastructure and killing civilians... Heavy exchange of artillery, mortar, and small arms fire in the Kupwara, Baramulla, Poonch, Rajouri and Akhnoor sectors has continued... The Indian Army has responded effectively and proportionately, causing extensive damage to the Pakistan Army.”She also confirmed, “The Pakistan Army are moving troops towards forward areas.”Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, addressing the misinformation efforts, said, “Claims have been made about large sections of Indian critical infrastructure, power systems, cyber systems, etc, being attacked and destroyed that are completely false.”“It’s a tissue of lies,” Misri added, urging citizens not to be misled by Pakistan’s propaganda.