New Delhi — India’s air defense systems successfully intercepted a large-scale aerial assault by Pakistan on Thursday night, targeting key military installations and cities near the western border. The attempted strikes, involving drones and missiles, triggered blackouts and air raid sirens across Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab, and Rajasthan as emergency protocols were swiftly activated.
According to the Integrated Defence Staff, the attacks aimed at military stations in Jammu, Udhampur, and Pathankot caused no damage or casualties. “Military stations in Jammu, Pathankot, and Udhampur near the International Boundary were targeted by Pakistan using missiles and drones. No losses. Threat neutralized by Indian Armed Forces as per SOP with kinetic and non-kinetic means,” the IDS said in a post on X.
Indian defenses intercepted eight missiles near Jammu and neutralized multiple drones near Jammu airport. No injuries were reported. The barrage caused temporary power outages at several locations, including the Vaishno Devi shrine in Reasi district and parts of Srinagar, as security forces remained on high alert.
In a major development, Indian forces reportedly shot down a Pakistan Air Force F-16 fighter jet using a surface-to-air missile system. The aircraft, which had taken off from Sargodha air base, was downed near its origin point, according to NDTV sources.
Thursday night’s offensive came just hours after India thwarted an earlier attempt by Pakistan to target 15 cities across the country. Army Colonel Sofiya Qureshi and Air Force Wing Commander Vyomika Singh confirmed that Awantipora, Srinagar, Jammu, Pathankot, Amritsar, Kapurthala, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Adampur, Bathinda, Chandigarh, Nal, Phalodi, Uttarlai, and Bhuj were on Pakistan’s target list. However, India’s integrated counter-UAS (Unmanned Aerial Systems) grid and layered air defense networks successfully intercepted all threats. Debris recovered from impact sites confirmed the origin of the drones and missiles as Pakistani territory.
In a swift and decisive response, Indian forces launched retaliatory strikes, destroying several Pakistani air defense systems, including a critical installation near Lahore. Simultaneously, Pakistan began unprovoked shelling in border sectors including Kupwara, Baramulla, Uri, Poonch, Mendhar, and Rajouri, using heavy artillery and mortars. The shelling killed 16 civilians, among them five children and three women. The Indian Army responded with proportionate force to suppress the aggression.
These developments follow India’s earlier Operation Sindoor, during which precision airstrikes eliminated nine terrorist camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Nearly 100 militants were reportedly killed in those strikes, conducted in retaliation for the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that claimed the lives of 26 civilians.
As tensions escalate, India has reiterated its right to defend its citizens and territory, with government and military officials emphasizing readiness for any further provocation. (Source: IANS)
