India, May 10 -- India's military strikes early on Saturday were a response to the escalatory and provocative actions of Pakistan, which is engaged in a "wanton campaign" of targeting civilians in Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab, foreign secretary Vikram Misri said.

Misri debunked Pakistan's claims about destroying or damaging military installations, critical infrastructure, and power and cyber systems in counter strikes during a briefing on Operation Sindoor as hostilities sharply escalated between the two sides with the use of missiles, combat jets, armed UAVs and long-range weapons.

Pakistan's activities over the past three days were "escalatory and provocative in nature", and India has "defended and reacted in a responsible and measure...