In a significant disclosure, Air Marshal AK Bharti, Director-General of Operations for the Indian Air Force (IAF), revealed on Sunday evening that the IAF had conducted strikes on military targets near Karachi, Pakistan, as part of India’s calibrated response to recent hostilities.
During a special briefing, Air Marshal Bharti stated that these operations were part of India's “measured and calibrated” response to Pakistani aggression. This included the use of drone and missile strikes, as well as small arms fire and artillery shelling across the Line of Control.
Among the high-value targets was a surface-to-air missile installation located at Malir Cantonment, a major military base situated approximately 35 kilometers from the city of Karachi.
In addition to the Karachi strikes, the IAF also targeted a radar installation in Lahore. This site is believed to have housed a Chinese-manufactured HQ-9 air defense system, which was reportedly neutralised by Israeli-made HARPY drones. Another radar site near Gujranwala, in Pakistan’s Punjab province, was also struck.
These revelations follow confirmation of the Indian Navy’s involvement in Operation Sindoor, India’s military retaliation to the Pahalgam terror attack, which was carried out by Lashkar-e-Taiba, a Pakistan-based terror outfit. India has attributed the attack to elements within the Pakistani deep state.
Vice Admiral AN Pramod, in a separate briefing, confirmed the Navy’s extensive deployment under Operation Sindoor. Carrier battle groups, submarines, and naval aviation assets were positioned outside Karachi harbour to contain Pakistan’s maritime capabilities.
Vice Admiral Pramod emphasised that the Indian Navy remained in a deterrent posture, fully prepared to strike strategic sea and land targets, including Karachi, at a time of India’s choosing. He noted that this stance effectively forced Pakistani naval and air units into a defensive posture, restricting their movement to harbours or coastal areas throughout the conflict.
Operation Sindoor itself was a precision strike that lasted approximately 25 minutes, commencing at 1:05 AM on May 7. It targeted four terrorist training camps inside Pakistan and five in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). According to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, the operation resulted in the elimination of over 100 terrorists and significantly damaged their infrastructure.
Following these Indian strikes, Pakistan launched a counter-offensive involving waves of drones and missiles aimed at military sites in Jammu & Kashmir, Rajasthan, and Punjab. These attacks triggered air raid sirens and blackouts in several cities, including Chandigarh, Jaisalmer, and Pathankot.
Both countries accused each other of targeting civilian areas. In one instance, three civilians were injured in a drone attack in Ferozepur, Punjab, while a government official was killed in Rajouri, Jammu & Kashmir. The aerial conflict escalated to include the downing of fighter jets on both sides. India is reported to have shot down a U.S.-made F-16 and a Chinese JF-17, while Pakistan falsely claimed to have brought down one of India’s advanced French-made Rafale jets.
Over the course of the next three nights, air defence systems on both sides were engaged in intercepting incoming missiles. India’s responses targeted key Pakistani air bases, including Rafiqui, Murid, Chaklala, and Rahim Yar Khan. The IAF also reported successful strikes on airbases at Sargodha and Bholari, both of which house F-16 and JF-17 aircraft. These operations reportedly disabled approximately 20 percent of the Pakistan Air Force’s infrastructure.
To support its claims, India released satellite imagery displaying extensive damage at terror camps across Pakistan and PoK. In contrast, Indian bases at Udhampur (Jammu & Kashmir), Pathankot and Adampur (Punjab), and Bhuj (Gujarat) suffered only limited damage, primarily to equipment and personnel.
Roughly 100 hours into the conflict, a ceasefire was brokered with assistance from the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump. The truce has largely held, though there were brief violations by Pakistan immediately following the announcement. India has since issued a firm warning to Pakistan, making it clear that any further ceasefire violations would provoke an even more decisive military response.
Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi has authorized bases along India's western frontier to take immediate counteraction if the ceasefire is breached.
Also Read: Pak Army to blame for losses, we targeted terror camps: India
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