Escalating Tensions: India Strikes Back After Pakistan's Drone Attacks
Intensified Military Engagements Between India and Pakistan
New Delhi: On Thursday, the Indian military successfully targeted and dismantled Pakistani air defense systems in Lahore and other regions, following Pakistan's attempt to strike various Indian military sites in retaliation for India's 'Operation Sindoor,' according to officials.
Sources from the Indian government revealed that the strikes focused on HQ-9 missile defense systems in Lahore, which were supplied by China, utilizing Israeli-manufactured HARPY loitering munitions. This counteraction was initiated after Pakistan launched drones and missiles at 15 Indian military locations across Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Rajasthan, and Gujarat during the night of May 7-8.
The Indian Defence Ministry stated that all hostile aerial threats were intercepted and neutralized by the Integrated Counter-Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) Grid and the Russian-made S-400 'Sudarshan Chakra' air defense systems. The S-400 is capable of detecting threats from up to 600 kilometers away and can intercept aircraft, ballistic missiles, and drones.
Indian officials confirmed that the strikes targeted radar installations and air defense systems, with the most significant impact reported in Lahore. The statement emphasized that India's response matched the intensity of Pakistan's actions. The military reiterated its commitment to de-escalation, contingent upon Pakistan's reciprocal restraint.
Residents in Lahore reported hearing loud explosions near Walton airport, causing panic and evacuations. Local media and Reuters reported sirens sounding as people fled their homes, with smoke visible rising from the vicinity, which is close to the city's central business district and army cantonment. Flight operations were temporarily halted in Lahore, Karachi, and Sialkot, but no civilian casualties were reported.
Pakistan's military claimed to have intercepted 12 Indian drones near Gujranwala, Chakwal, Bahawalpur, Miano, Karachi, Chhor, Rawalpindi, and Attock, with one drone reportedly crashing near Lahore. They also reported four soldiers injured in Lahore and one civilian death in Miano, Sindh.
Operation Sindoor and Its Consequences
India's retaliatory strikes were a response to 'Operation Sindoor,' executed on Wednesday, during which Indian Air Force Rafale jets and Army missile units targeted nine terror camps associated with Jaish-e-Mohammad and Lashkar-e-Taiba in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. The government claimed that over 100 terrorists were killed while ensuring minimal civilian casualties and damage to Pakistani military infrastructure.
In response, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif labeled the Indian air strikes as an 'act of war.' While India released footage of the targeted terror sites, Pakistan alleged that civilians, including women and children, were among the casualties.
Furthermore, Indian authorities reported that Pakistani shelling along the Line of Control resulted in the deaths of 16 civilians, including three women and five children. India retaliated with fire aimed at silencing the mortar and artillery attacks, according to officials.