New Delhi [India], May 10 (ANI): Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury on Saturday accused Pakistan of harbouring terrorists and targeting civilians while stressing the need for a decisive response to its actions.

Chowdhury also claimed that Pakistan-backed forces want to escalate tensions between the two countries further.

Speaking to ANI, Chowdhury said, 'Pakistan is a shameful country and the Pakistani government gives shelter to terrorists. Pakistan is now targeting civilians and wants to scare the people of the country. This is impossible. The whole country is united and stands in support of the armed forces. The whole country wants a befitting reply to be given to Pakistan. There are forces behind Pakistan which are supporting it and want the war to escalate.'

Tensions between India and Pakistan escalated further on Saturday as Indian Armed forces conducted precision strikes on four airbases in Pakistan, responding to Pakistan's attack on 26 Indian locations.

Indian Army Colonel Sofiya Qureshi stated that precision strikes were carried out on Pakistani military targets in Rafiqui, Murid, Chaklala, Rahim Yar Khan, Sukkur, and Chunian, as well as radar sites at Pasrur and Sialkot aviation bases, using air-launched weapons from Indian fighter aircraft.

Earlier, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, Colonel Sophia Qureshi and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh briefed the media about the ongoing developments amidst the rising tensions between India and Pakistan.

Secretary Misri emphasised that the actions being undertaken by Pakistan against India are being seen as 'escalatory' and 'provocative' in nature. He made the remarks during a press briefing on Saturday, where proofs of Pakistan's escalatory and provocative actions were provided alongside exposing the lies being peddled by Pakistan.

While speaking to the media, the Foreign Secretary said, 'Pakistan's actions constituted provocation, escalation. In response, India defended and reacted in a responsible and measured fashion'.

Despite the intensity of the attacks, Indian forces successfully engaged and retaliated, though airbases in Udhampur, Pathankot, Adampur, Bhuj, and Bathinda sustained damage, and personnel were injured. Pakistan's use of high-speed missiles at 1:40 AM to target Punjab's airbase station and the unprofessional targeting of hospitals and schools in airbases in Srinagar, Awantipora, and Udhampur were particularly condemned.

India categorically rejected Pakistan's malicious misinformation campaign, which falsely claimed the destruction of critical Indian military assets and infrastructure.

Wing Commander Vyomika Singh, while addressing the joint press conference, highlighted Pakistan's attempts to spread disinformation about damage caused to the S-400 system at Adhampur, airfields at Suratgarh and Sirsa, Brahmos space at Nagrota, and artillery-gun positions in Dehrangyari and Chandigarh, among other allegations.

Wing Commander Singh emphasised that India unequivocally rejects these false narratives, which are part of a broader strategy to undermine India's military capabilities and instil fear among the public.

Meanwhile, the incidents of heavy shelling and cross-border firing were reported from various places aligning with Pakistan border on Saturday.

Tensions escalated between India and Pakistan after the Indian Armed Forces launched Operation Sindoor in the early hours of May 7th, targeting terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoK).

This operation was a retaliatory response to the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which resulted in the deaths of 26 civilians, including one Nepali national. (ANI)