Pakistan foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said: "May I just add. The Pakistan Air Force was already air-bound. We were ready for all eventualities."
Pakistan defence minister Pervez Khatak was relentlessly trolled on Twitter today after he apparently told reporters that their forces were ready to repel the Indian attack but "it was dark".
In a pre-dawn air strike, 12 Mirage 2000 aircraft of the Indian Air Force targeted a sprawling Jaish-e Mohammed terror training camp at Balakot in Pakistan.
This is the Defence minister of Naya Pakistan: "Our air force was ready but it was dark.." Guys, ghabrana nahi hai. #okbye
— Naila Inayat नायला इनायत (@nailainayat) February 26, 2019
pic.twitter.com/QqNYU7QoCI
In what appeared to be a press conference held later, Mr Khatak is heard explaining the role of the Pakistan air force.
In the video clip, which was shared by Pakistani journalists on social media, Mr Khatak is heard saying, "Our air force was ready, but since it was happening in the night and it was dark, they could not gauge the extent of the damage... So they waited and now they have received clear directions..."
Shah Mahmood Qureshi, who are you to tell a journalist not to question or give certificates of patriotism. You @SMQureshiPTI are a people's representative and not a monarch, in case you forgot. pic.twitter.com/8DOJanop8f
— Naila Inayat नायला इनायत (@nailainayat) February 26, 2019
Pakistan foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, next to him, added: "May I just add. The Pakistan Air Force was already air-bound. We were ready for all eventualities."
Through the day, the minister was targeted on social media.
So a friend from the area has confirmed that madressa Taleem-ul-Quran (it’s board says run by Hazrat Maulana Masood Azhar) at Mansehra (Balakot) was hit, & there are ~10 ambulances around. But the area is now sealed. Local students told him, ziada nahi marai bachatt hogae.
— Syed (@gypsy_heart6) February 26, 2019
— Naila Inayat नायला इनायत (@nailainayat) February 26, 2019
Sir this by Pak Defence minister is EPIC
— gab.ai/TheCol🇮🇳 (@desertfox61I) February 26, 2019
.
Says they were ready
But
It was DARK
. pic.twitter.com/vjWQVqXEu0
Pak Defence Min response : " Our Air Force were ready but it was DARK". Hahahahhahahahahhaha seriously ? This is defence minister ? And they want to attack India. #IndiaStrikesBack #PulwanaRevenge
— Abhijeet Srivastava (@Abhijeet_92) February 26, 2019
No comments. pic.twitter.com/XRKDV8OEDQ
— Naila Inayat नायला इनायत (@nailainayat) February 26, 2019
Unbelievable. Pakistan's Defence minister & Army chief said in press conference that Pak Airforce was ready to respond.. but 'Andher mein kuch dikha nahi aur nuksaan ka idea nahi aaya'. Even India should be embarrassed to have this country as our neighbour. #IndiaStrikesPakistan
— Kushagra Swarnkar (@kushhagra_) February 26, 2019
@AniqaNisar According to Pak Defence Minister, Pak Air Force was ready to retaliate, but they failed to do so due to darkness! Appreciate the honesty & frankness of the minister which is essential for improving Indo Pak relation!
— NARENDRA NARAYAN (@NARENDRANARAYAN) February 26, 2019
That IAF intruded so deep without being detected suggests advanced ECM deployed. Need for some soul-searching.
— Abbas Nasir (@abbasnasir59) February 26, 2019
Shah Mahmood Qureshi is saying Pakistan plans to take foreign correspondents to Balakot so that they can see for themselves what happened. Remember same journos went on such a trip after 2016 strikes as well.
— Naila Inayat नायला इनायत (@nailainayat) February 26, 2019
India and Pakistan, try not to start World War III down there, alright? I got a big meteor coming soon and I don't want you stealing My thunder.
— God (@TheTweetOfGod) February 26, 2019
Please wait for the 2019 edition of Pak Studies textbook to get appropriate answers. https://t.co/eAPVBuBYLK
— Naila Inayat नायला इनायत (@nailainayat) February 26, 2019
This eyewitness interviewed by the BBC says he knws about houses being hit near his residence and someone he knows personally being injured. India claims it was a Jaish e Mohammad camp. No secret Pak has JeM camps. @OfficialDGISPR is once again misleading the public. Shameful. pic.twitter.com/HA5JgnStKa
— Taha Siddiqui (@TahaSSiddiqui) February 26, 2019
Doing what? 🧐 https://t.co/bAroh1l6iy
— Naila Inayat नायला इनायत (@nailainayat) February 26, 2019
Pakistan's military PR spox is denying that Indian aircraft struck the JeM camp in Balakot, or even entered Pak airspace. He then claims Indian warplanes dropped bombs near Balakot. Contradict yourself much, Major General Ghafoor? https://t.co/iaEUtxE1X4
— Bill Roggio (@billroggio) February 26, 2019
Pakistan denies any attack yet says that it will retaliate. Bhai why retaliate if there was no attack? https://t.co/GdcrOJeWR2
— Shuja-ul-haq (@ShujaUH) February 26, 2019
The idea of a pressconf is to ask questions- and it is completely justified for a journo to ask if the Indian jets came, bombed & left without a scramble/shot down - it is unacceptable that @SMQureshiPTI would imply lack of patriotism of a journalists asking such a qn.
— Nasim Zehra (@NasimZehra) February 26, 2019
Strong statement from @MarisePayne on India Pakistan tensions, appears to be backing in Indian arguments pic.twitter.com/R0JWkqLFBh
— Primrose Riordan (@primroseriordan) February 26, 2019