Hyderabad (Telangana) [India], May 10 (ANI): Amid escalating tensions between India and Pakistan, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Saturday urged decisive action against terrorism, stressing the need to end Pakistan-sponsored terrorism.

On being asked if he agrees with PM Modi's decision to eliminate terror at any cost, Owaisi told ANI, 'Well, it is a challenge for our country, the country headed by a Prime Minister. But we have to save the country. We have to save the people living in our country. We have to save children, women, everyone, the farmers. So it is high time that we put an end to this Pakistan-sponsored terrorism.'

Owaisi also expressed shock over Western countries' reluctance to term the Pahalgam attack a terrorist attack, saying 'most unfortunate'.

'Most unfortunate. I mean, I'm perplexed. I'm shocked that how can you use words as militants or gunmen. These are people who came into India and they only shot people who were not Muslims. What would you call them? If a terrorist comes and asks you what is your religion? Can you recite the holy Kalima which is an assertion of our faith and they kill in the name of religion. So they are terrorists only,' he stated.

Owaisi also criticised Pakistan's use of religious references in its military operation against India, questioning the consistency of its actions.

'See, they have used a Quranic verse of Surah Saf, verse number four. But they have conveniently forgotten what in that same chapter verse number two says. Oh believers, why do you say what you do not do? Pakistan needs to answer for its actions against Iran, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh,' Owaisi said, calling out Pakistan's approach as hypocritical.

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)