Tensions between India and Pakistan have escalated sharply following India’s “Operation Sindoor” in response to a terror attack in Pahalgam. India stated that any attacks on its military installations would be met with a strong response.
On Thursday, Pakistan reportedly fired eight missiles targeting Satwari, Samba, RS Pura, and Arnia. Indian defense sources indicated that all missiles were intercepted by air defense units. These sources likened the attack to Hamas’s tactics against Israel, suggesting a similarity in the use of multiple low-cost rockets. There are also claims of a recent meeting between Pakistan’s ISI and Hamas in Pakistan-Occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
Explosions were heard in Udhampur and flashes were seen in Jaisalmer as Indian air defense systems intercepted Pakistani drones. In response to these threats, a complete blackout was enforced in Bikaner (Rajasthan), Jalandhar (Punjab), Kishtwar, Akhnoor, Samba, Jammu, and Amritsar. Pakistan also targeted Jammu with loitering munitions, prompting a response from Indian Air Defence guns.
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri addressed the situation, stating that Pakistan initiated the escalation on April 22nd, and India’s actions, including the strikes on terrorist camps on Wednesday morning, were a restrained response targeting non-civilian, non-military infrastructure. He emphasized that any further action by Pakistan would be considered an escalation and would be met with an appropriate response, which he indicated was already underway. Misri maintained that India’s intent was not to escalate the situation but to respond to Pakistan’s initial actions in a targeted, precise, controlled, and measured manner, focusing solely on terrorist infrastructure.
The government informed an all-party meeting that over 100 terrorists were reportedly killed in India’s precision strikes on Wednesday.
The Defence Ministry issued a statement detailing that on the night of May 7th, Pakistan attempted to strike numerous military targets across Northern and Western India, including Awantipura, Srinagar, Jammu, Pathankot, Amritsar, Kapurthala, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Adampur, Bhatinda, Chandigarh, Nal, Phalodi, Uttarlai, and Bhuj, using drones and missiles. The ministry stated that these attempts were neutralized by India’s integrated counter-Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) grid and air defense systems, with debris recovered as proof of the attacks.
The statement further revealed that on Thursday morning, Indian Armed Forces retaliated by targeting Pakistani Air Defence Radars and systems at several locations, mirroring the domain and intensity of Pakistan’s actions. It was reported that an Air Defence system in Lahore was neutralized.
Additionally, the Defence Ministry reported an increase in unprovoked firing by Pakistan across the Line of Control using mortars and heavy artillery in areas such as Kupwara, Baramulla, Uri, Poonch, Mendhar, and Rajouri in Jammu and Kashmir. Tragically, sixteen civilian lives, including three women and five children, were lost due to this firing. India responded to halt the mortar and artillery fire. The Indian Armed Forces reiterated their commitment to non-escalation, contingent on the Pakistani military reciprocating.
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