India's air defence system effectively repelled a series of aerial attacks by Pakistan on Thursday evening, targeting Jammu and several military facilities along the western border.
The attack, which included both drones and missiles, caused widespread power cuts and emergency alerts in areas of Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab, and Rajasthan. Local officials sounded alerts asking people to remain indoors as security measures were quickly implemented.
In retaliation to the attempted intrusions, India is said to have opened fire on Pakistani positions.
The Integrated Defence Staff confirmed that no harm was caused.
All the targeted installations, including in Jammu and Udhampur, remained safe.
"Jammu, Pathankot and Udhampur Military Stations close to the International Boundary, in Jammu & Kashmir targeted by Pakistan with missiles and drones. No casualties. Threat neutralised by #IndianArmedForces as per SoP with kinetic & non-kinetic means," the IDS said on X.
Sources disclosed that Indian defence systems intercepted and neutralized multiple hostile drones close to the Jammu airport and were able to prevent any casualties.
Also, eight incoming missiles were destroyed in the Jammu region, as reported by various news agencies. The attack resulted in temporary blackouts at the Vaishno Devi shrine in Reasi and the same blackouts in Srinagar amidst heightened security.
In a noteworthy turn of events, an Indian surface-to-air missile reportedly shot down a Pakistan Air Force F-16 fighter aircraft near the Sargodha air base, as reported by NDTV sources.
This aggression came after a previous attempt by Pakistan to attack 15 cities in India.
Army Colonel Sofiya Qureshi and Air Force Wing Commander Vyomika Singh confirmed that places such as Awantipora, Srinagar, Jammu, Pathankot, Amritsar, Kapurthala, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Adampur, Bathinda, Chandigarh, Nal, Phalodi, Uttarlai, and Bhuj were also on the Pakistani radar. Indian integrated air defense and counter-drone systems rapidly neutralized all the threats, though. Trashed wreckage confirmed that the missiles and drones were from Pakistani lands.
In a swift retaliatory action, Indian troops targeted Pakistani defence installations, reportedly destroying several important assets, including a major installation in Lahore. At the same time, Pakistan mounted unprovoked shelling in Kupwara, Baramulla, Uri, Poonch, Mendhar, and Rajouri districts, employing mortars and heavy weapons. These shelling operations inhumanely killed 16 civilians, including five children and three women. The Indian Army countered with measured and determined return fire.
Before these breakthroughs, India had conducted targeted air strikes under "Operation Sindoor," attacking nine terrorist camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. The precision attacks are said to have neutralized about 100 militants.
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