The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) on Thursday rejected the reports appearing in Indian media in which it was claimed that Pakistan had deployed additional troops along the Line of Control (LoC) in Gilgit-Baltistan and China was using the Skardu Airbase.

In a series of tweets posted by ISPR Director General Maj Gen Babar Iftikhar, the claims were described as “false, irresponsible and far from the truth”.

He said the news circulating in Indian electronic and social media claiming additional deployment of Pakistan Army troops along the LoC in Gilgit-Baltistan and alleged use of Skardu Airbase by China was false, irresponsible and far from the truth.

https://twitter.com/OfficialDGISPR/status/1278578274076155904

“No such movement or induction of additional forces has taken place. We also vehemently deny the presence of Chinese troops in Pakistan,” he added.

https://twitter.com/OfficialDGISPR/status/1278578276554944513

The statement came as Indian TV channel Zee News earlier claimed that the Indian intelligence agencies had recently noticed activities of the Chinese Air Force at Skardu Airbase.

It also alleged that over 40 Chinese fighter jets were witnessed in Skardu in June itself and China was preparing to use the airbase to launch an attack against India. 

Later on Thursday, The Economic Times accused Pakistan of moving around 20,000 additional soldiers to LoC “to match Chinese deployments on the LAC in the east”.

Citing intelligence sources, it also falsely claimed that the Pakistani radars were believed to be fully activated all along the region too.

The Economic Times also alleged that the Chinese officials were holding talks with cadres of Al Badr to incite violence in Occupied Kashmir.