India neutralises Pakistani drone and missile strikes, responds with precision retaliation

Shillong, May 8: In a swift and coordinated response, Indian defence forces today successfully neutralised multiple airborne threats targeting key military installations in Jammu, Pathankot, and Udhampur, along the International Border in Jammu and Kashmir. The aerial threats—believed to have originated from Pakistan—included a mix of drones and missile systems, reportedly launched in an attempt to test India’s border defence capabilities.

Official sources confirmed that the hostile objects were detected early and engaged using a combination of kinetic and non-kinetic measures, strictly adhering to established Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). The timely and calibrated action ensured there were no casualties or damage to infrastructure.

“India remains fully prepared to defend its sovereignty and safeguard its citizens,” a senior defence official stated, adding that forward military zones across the region remain on high alert.

In response to the heightened threat perception, the Indian government has rolled out enhanced security protocols at airports nationwide. The Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) announced immediate measures, including:

Mandatory secondary security screening for all passengers before boarding

Restricted terminal access, limited to ticketed passengers only

Comprehensive CCTV surveillance across all airports

Increased deployment of air marshals on commercial flights

Stricter checks on vehicles and passengers at entry points, including random baggage inspections.

These actions come amid rising regional tensions, with aviation safety emerging as a top priority for authorities.

Earlier in the day, the Indian Army successfully thwarted a broader attempt by Pakistan to target military infrastructure in 15 Indian cities. In a measured retaliatory strike, Indian forces destroyed a Pakistani Air Defence system in Lahore on Thursday morning.

The attempted attacks were in response to Indian airstrikes conducted early Wednesday on terror camps located in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and within Pakistani territory. Between the night of May 7 and early May 8, Pakistan launched a coordinated drone and missile offensive against Indian military bases in both northern and western regions.

Targeted locations included Awantipura, Srinagar, Jammu, Pathankot, Amritsar, Kapurthala, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Adampur, Bathinda, Chandigarh, Nal, Phalodi, Uttarlai, and Bhuj. All hostile incursions were effectively countered by India’s Integrated Counter-Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) Grid and Air Defence network. Authorities are currently recovering debris from several sites, confirming the involvement of Pakistan in the failed attack.

The Ministry of Defence, in an official statement, said India’s earlier operation—Operation Sindoor—was a precise and proportionate response to the April 22 terrorist attack in Pahalgam, which killed 26 tourists. The statement clarified that Indian strikes carefully avoided Pakistani military assets and focused exclusively on terror infrastructure.

However, following Pakistan’s escalation, the Indian Armed Forces expanded their response on Thursday, targeting Pakistani air defence systems and radars at multiple locations, including the confirmed neutralisation of one system in Lahore.

Simultaneously, Pakistan intensified unprovoked shelling along the Line of Control (LoC), deploying mortars and heavy artillery across several sectors, including Kupwara, Baramulla, Uri, Poonch, Mendhar, and Rajouri. These attacks resulted in the tragic deaths of 16 civilians, including three women and five children.

Indian forces responded swiftly to silence Pakistani positions and prevent further loss of life.

Reiterating its position, the Ministry of Defence affirmed that while India remains committed to avoiding escalation, it reserves the right to respond decisively when provoked.

Also Read: India thwarts drone and missile threats targeting military bases in J&K

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