Late Wednesday night and into early Thursday morning, Pakistan attempted to escalate military tensions by launching coordinated attacks on Indian military installations across 15 cities in the northern and western regions, including key locations in Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, and Gujarat. According to the Indian government, these attempts were successfully thwarted by Indian forces.
Responding swiftly and decisively, Indian Armed Forces launched targeted strikes to neutralise Pakistani Air Defence Radars and related systems at multiple sites, including in Lahore. The retaliatory action came after Pakistan’s failed attempt to target military facilities in cities such as Srinagar, Pathankot, Amritsar, Ludhiana, Chandigarh, and others.
The government emphasized that India's response was executed “in the same domain and with the same intensity” as Pakistan’s attempted attacks. Pakistani forces reportedly employed drones and missiles, which were intercepted and destroyed by India's advanced air defence infrastructure.
According to official sources, Indian forces deployed HARPY drones to take out Pakistan’s air defence systems. Additionally, India’s Russian-origin S-400 missile defence system was instrumental in intercepting and neutralising incoming missiles aimed at Indian cities.
Debris from the intercepted drones and missiles is being recovered and will serve as evidence supporting India's claims that Pakistan—or elements of its deep state—actively supports cross-border terrorism, either through direct military training or financial aid.
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The attempted Pakistani assault occurred just a day after the Indian Armed Forces executed Operation Sindoor, a precision military campaign that targeted four terrorist camps in Pakistan and five in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). The operation, carried out in the early hours of Wednesday starting at 1:05 am, lasted 25 minutes and involved 24 high-precision munitions, including HAMMER smart bombs and SCALP missiles.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh stated on Thursday that over 100 terrorists were eliminated during the strikes. The targets included terrorist group headquarters and training camps, with specific hits on Lashkar-e-Taiba’s base in Muridke, Punjab, and a Jaish-e-Mohammed facility linked to the 2019 Pulwama attack.
Operation Sindoor was launched in direct retaliation for the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, in which four terrorists from The Resistance Front (a Lashkar-e-Taiba proxy) killed 26 people—mostly civilians—at the Baisaran Valley, a popular tourist destination near Srinagar. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had publicly vowed a strong response to the attack.
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At a joint press conference held Wednesday, representatives from the Indian Army and Air Force stressed that Operation Sindoor was “focused, measured, and non-escalatory,” and confirmed that no Pakistani military facilities had been targeted.
Despite this, Pakistan has continued to escalate hostilities along the Line of Control. According to government sources, there has been a sharp rise in cross-border firing and shelling since the Pahalgam attack. Mortars and heavy artillery have been used in multiple sectors, including Kupwara, Baramulla, Uri, Poonch, Mendhar, and Rajouri.
As of now, 16 Indian civilians have been reported killed, including three women and five children. Additionally, one Indian soldier has lost his life. The government reiterated its position that India remains committed to avoiding further escalation—provided Pakistan refrains from continued aggression.
At an all-party briefing held Thursday, Defence Minister Singh reiterated that Operation Sindoor remains “ongoing” and that any future Pakistani attacks on Indian military assets would invite proportional and firm retaliation.
Also Read: India destroys air defence system near Lahore in precision strike
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