In a fresh and unprovoked escalation, Pakistan fired drones toward multiple locations in India for the second consecutive day on Friday, targeting areas across Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, and Rajasthan.
The drone attacks, including one aimed at the Indian Air Force base in Awantipora, were successfully intercepted and thwarted by Indian security forces.
According to official sources, the drones were directed toward key locations: Jammu, Samba, and Rajouri in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir; Pathankot and Amritsar in Punjab; and Pokhran in Rajasthan. Simultaneously, reports of heavy artillery shelling emerged from areas along the Line of Control (LoC), particularly in north Kashmir's Kupwara district, and in sectors including Samba, Poonch, Uri, Nowgam, and Handwara.
The increased hostility led to blackouts in Pathankot and Jammu, where sirens were sounded for the second night in a row. These precautionary measures followed Pakistan’s earlier targeting of military installations in the same areas just a day prior. In Amritsar, drone activity was detected before the onset of heavy firing. As a security measure, a blackout was enforced in the area before the situation escalated.
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Jammu and Kashmir’s Chief Minister Omar Abdullah confirmed the ongoing situation via social media, reporting that he could hear intermittent explosions. “Intermittent sounds of blasts, probably heavy artillery, can now be heard from where I am,” he posted on X (formerly Twitter).
In a separate message, he appealed to citizens in the affected regions to stay indoors and avoid panic. “It’s my earnest appeal to everyone in & around Jammu — please stay off the streets, stay at home or at the nearest place you can comfortably stay at for the next few hours. Ignore rumours, don’t spread unsubstantiated or unverified stories & we will get through this together,” Abdullah urged.
This wave of aggression from Pakistan follows a similar assault on Thursday, which involved attacks on military bases in Jammu, Udhampur, and Pathankot. India’s Ministry of Defence stated that all drones and missiles launched from across the border were successfully intercepted. In response, India reportedly launched retaliatory strikes, deploying armed drones that targeted four air defence sites inside Pakistan.
Also Read: Blackout in Jammu, Pathankot as air defence thwarts Pak drones
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