Pak fired 300-400 drones at 36 spots, India hit back at 4 sites, says govt
This story was originally published at 19:44 IST on 9 May 2025
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--Colonel Sofiya Qureshi: Pak violated India air space many times Thu night
--CONTEXT: External affairs ministry holds briefing on Operation Sindoor
--Colonel Sofiya Qureshi: Initial probe shows downed Pak drones from Turkey
--Wing Commander Vyomika Singh: Pak targeted Indian military infra Thu night
--Wing Commander Vyomika Singh: Pak firing led to some deaths, injuries
--Wing Commander Singh: Civilian planes still flying between Lahore, Karachi
--Foreign secy: Pak Thu night also targeted Indian cities, civilian infra
--Foreign Secy: Pak claim of India hitting Poonch gurdwara "preposterous"
--Foreign Secy: Responded responsibly, sufficiently to Pak attack Thu night
NEW DELHI - Pakistan armed forces Thursday night fired 300-400 drones at 36 locations along the western border from Leh in Ladakh to Sir Creek in Gujarat, targeting military installations, Wing Commander Vyomika Singh Friday said at a press conference by the Ministry of External Affairs on Operation Sindoor.
In response to Pakistan's attack, Indian armed forces launched armed drones at four air defence sites in Pakistan and one of the drones destroyed an air defence radar, Wing Commander Singh said.
"On the intervening night of May 8 and 9, Pakistan military carried out multiple violations of Indian airspace along the entire western border with an intent to target military infrastructure. Pakistan military also resorted to firing of heavy caliber weapons along the Line of Control. Along the international border and Line of Control, drone intrusions were attempted from Leh to Sir Creek. Indian armed forces brought down these drones using kinetic and non-kinetic means," Singh said.
According to armed forces, the possible reasons for large area intrusions were to test the Indian air defence system and gather intelligence. Colonel Sofiya Qureshi said that the forensic examination of the drone debris is being undertaken. She also said initial reports revealed that Pakistan used Turkey's SONGAL drones.
"Later in the night, an armed unmanned aerial vehicle of Pakistan attempted to target Bhatinda military station which was detected and neutralised. In response to the Pakistani attack, armed drones were launched at four air defence sites in Pakistan. One of the drones was able to destroy an air defence radar," Wing Commander Singh said.
Pakistan army also resorted to artillery firing across the line of control in Jammu and Kashmir which resulted in some losses and injuries to Indian Army personnel.
"Pakistan also carried out artillery shelling across the Line of Control using heavy caliber artillery guns and armed drones at Uri, Poonch, Mendhar, Rajouri, Akhnoor and Udhampur in Jammu and Kashmir area which resulted in some losses and injuries to Indian Army personnel," Wing Commander Singh said.
The Ministry of External Affairs criticised Pakistan for not closing its airspace for civilian airlines despite launching drones. Pakistan is using civil airlines as a shield, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said.
Misri said that Indian armed forces responded proportionately and responsibly to Pakistan's provocative and escalatory action on Thursday night.
He further said that Pakistan's claim of India hitting Poonch gurdwara is "preposterous". "India targeting Nankana Sahib Gurudwara is a blatant lie and part of Pakistan's misinformation campaign," Misri said, adding that India's steadfast unity is a challenge for Pakistan.
The foreign secretary also informed that in view of the existing security scenario, services of Kartarpur corridor have been suspended till further order.
Tensions escalated between India and Pakistan after the Pahalgam terrorist attack on Apr. 22 in which 25 tourists and a local Kashmiri were killed. India launched Operation Sindoor on Wednesday in response to the Pahalgam attack and struck at nine terrorist locations in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir. End
Reported by Kuldeep Singh
Edited by Akul Nishant Akhoury
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