'Pakistan started lying as soon as it was born': Foreign secretary Vikram Misri on claims 'Indian jets shot down' during Op Sindoor

NEW DELHI: Foreign secretary Vikram Misri on Thursday strongly rebutted Pakistan's recent claim of "downing" of Indian jets, amid rising tensions after India's precision strikes under 'Operation Sindoor,' calling out Islamabad's "long history of lies".Addressing a joint press conference, Misri dismissed Pakistan’s claims that Indian jets had been downed.On Pakistan’s assertion that it shot down Indian aircraft, Misri said, “…There is nothing surprising in it.After all, this is a country that started lying as soon as it was born. In 1947, when the Pakistani army claimed Jammu and Kashmir, they lied not to any random person but to the United Nations that we have nothing to do with it… So this journey started 75 years ago…”He also referred to another claim by neighbouring Pakistan and said, “Pakistan also alleges that we have targeted the Neelum-Jhelum dam in PoJK, it is absolutely fabricated and a blatant lie. India has only targeted terrorist infrastructure... If this kind of a claim is a pretext of targeting Indian infrastructure of similar nature, then Pakistan will be solely responsible for the consequences that will undoubtedly follow.”Also See: Operation SindoorHighlighting Pakistan’s track record as a hub for terrorism, Misri said the country's global reputation as the "epicentre of terrorism" is well established."I don't need to remind where Osama Bin Laden was found and who called him a martyr... Pakistan is also home to a large number of UN proscribed terrorists and also to terrorists proscribed by many countries... You must have seen in the last few days, their defence minister and former foreign minister accepted their country's involvement with such terror groups," he said.The strong response from ministry of external affairs comes days after its armed forces launched coordinated strikes on terror camps in Pakistan and PoJK in response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, which claimed 26 lives.