PTI
New Delhi
India on Thursday thwarted Pakistan’s attempts to strike military sites with drones and missiles at 15 places in northern and western regions of the country and targeted Pakistani air defence systems with one in Lahore being “neutralised”, as tensions soared between the two countries amid fears of a wider conflict.
The attempts by Pakistan came after the Indian armed forces early Wednesday carried out precise missile strikes on nine terror targets in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and Pakistan under ‘Operation Sindoor’.
As the ministry of defence (MoD) reiterated that any attack on military sites in India will invite a “suitable response”, foreign secretary Vikram Misri said the choice of de-escalation is with Pakistan as it escalated the situation with the Pahalgam terror attack and that India only responded to it through ‘Operation Sindoor’.
The Indian armed forces targeted air defence radars and systems at a number of locations in Pakistan and “neutralised” an air defence system in Lahore, it said.
India used kamikaze drones to destroy the Pakistani air defence
system.
Sound of massive explosions were heard in Jaisalmer and a blackout was enforced in western Rajasthan districts bordering Pakistan, plunging the whole stretch into darkness, the police said.
A top official confirmed a massive sound was heard in Jaisalmer. After a brief lull, the sound of explosions continued for nearly an hour. As leaders across the political spectrum projected a united front, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is reported to have told an all-party meeting that at least 100 hardcore terrorists and their associates were killed in the Indian strikes.
At another event, he assured the nation that no limit will become an obstacle for the government in protecting India’s sovereignty. “We are fully prepared for such responsible responses in the future as well.”
Many states have announced the closure of schools, blackouts in border districts, and cancellation of leave of police personnel and administration officials.
The stringent measures were taken by Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Delhi, Gujarat, West Bengal and Bihar.
In a press statement, the MoD said that on the night of May 7-8, Pakistan attempted to engage a number of military targets in Awantipura, Srinagar, Jammu, Pathankot, Amritsar, Kapurthala, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Adampur, Bhatinda, Chandigarh, Nal, Phalodi, Uttarlai, and Bhuj.
“These attempts were neutralised by the Integrated Counter Unmanned Aircraft System (Grid and Air Defence systems),” it said. The S-400 air defence systems were deployed to counter the attacks in northern India.
The statement said the debris of these attacks is now being recovered from a number of locations that prove the Pakistani strikes.
“It was also reiterated that any attack on military targets in India will invite a suitable response.”
The statement further said the armed forces targeted on Thursday morning air defence radars and systems at a number of locations in Pakistan.
“Indian response has been in the same domain with the same intensity as Pakistan,” the ministry said.
“It has been reliably learnt that an air defence system at Lahore has been neutralised.”
Indian air defence units successfully intercepted at least eight missiles fired by Pakistan towards the border areas of Jammu, including the strategically important Jammu airport at Satwari on Thursday evening, defence sources said here.
Drawing a parallel to the tactics of the Palestinian Hamas terror group, the sources said all “cheap” rockets directed at the Jammu region were successfully intercepted and neutralised by Air Defence Units.
The Pakistan Army said three people were killed and eight others, including four soldiers, were injured in drone attacks and claimed that armed forces shot down several UAVs launched by India.
Addressing a press conference with Army spokesman Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar accused India of attacking Pakistan with drones.
He said Pakistan has so far limited its response. However, he warned that Pakistan keeps its right to respond.
Lt Gen Chaudhry claimed that drones were neutralised in Lahore, Gujranwala, Chakwal, Bahawalpur, Miano, Karachi, Chhor, Rawalpindi, and Attock.
An official told PTI that at least four drones hit the Lahore cantonment area.
“So far, 25 Israeli-made Harop drones have been shot down by the Pakistani Army’s soft kill (technical) and hard kill (weapons),” the Pakistan Army claimed in a statement.
In New Delhi, the MoD said Pakistan has increased the intensity of its unprovoked firing across the line of control (LoC) using mortars and heavy calibre artillery in areas in Kupwara, Baramulla, Uri, Poonch, Mendhar and Rajouri sectors in Jammu and Kashmir.
“Sixteen innocent lives have been lost, including three women and five children, due to Pakistani firing,” the defence ministry said.
Here too, India was compelled to respond to bring mortar and artillery fire from Pakistan to a halt, it added.
“Indian armed forces reiterate their commitment to non-escalation, provided it is respected by the Pakistani military.”
At a meeting with visiting Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said India has no intention to escalate the situation with Pakistan but if there are military attacks on the country, then it will be met with a “very” firm response.
A source quoted the Defence Minister as saying, “It is difficult to give an exact estimate as the operation is still ongoing and we are collating the details. India will give a befitting reply if Pakistan attacks.”
The operation has achieved its intended objectives, he added.
In his address at National Quality Conclave 2025, Singh said the Indian armed forces executed ‘Operation Sindoor’ with “unimaginable” precision. He again said that a “good number of terrorists” were killed in the mission but did not specify any number.
“The armed forces executed the operation without harming any innocent person and with minimum collateral damage, terming it as unimaginable and a matter of great pride for the nation.”
At his media briefing, Misri said escalation started from that side (Pakistan) with the Pahalgam attack.
“Our approach is not to escalate the situation, we only responded to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack.”
On de-escalation of the situation, Misri said, “Pakistan escalated the situation, we only responded. Choice is with Pakistan.”
