Senior Army officials late tonight revealed that drones were sighted at 26 locations ranging from Baramulla in the North to Bhuj in the South, along both the International Border and the Line of Control with Pakistan
New Delhi/Srinagar: In a relentless show of aggression, Pakistan further escalated hostilities on Friday night, unleashing a wave of drone attacks on multiple Indian cities. One Pakistani drone reportedly slammed into a residential home in Punjab's Ferozepur, injuring at least three civilians. The injured have been provided medical assistance and the area has been sanitised by security forces.
Senior Army officials late tonight revealed that drones were sighted at 26 locations ranging from Baramulla in the North to Bhuj in the South, along both the International Border and the Line of Control with Pakistan. These include suspected armed drones posing potential threats to civilian and military targets. The locations include Baramulla, Srinagar, Avantipora, Nagrota, Jammu, Ferozepur, Pathankot, Fazilka, Lalgarh Jatta, Jaisalmer, Barmer, Bhuj, Kuarbet and Lakhi Nala.
The Army officials advised "citizens, especially in border areas, to remain indoors, limit unnecessary movement and strictly follow safety instructions issued by local authorities".
"While there is no need for panic, heightened vigilance and precaution are essential," the officials added.
Relentless heavy artillery and mortar shelling by Pakistan also continued for a third consecutive day on the volatile Jammu and Kashmir border following Operation Sindoor, claiming three lives, while the BSF thwarted a major infiltration attempt, killing seven terrorists.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a high-level meeting on Friday night with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, NSA Ajit Doval, Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Anil Chauhan, Army Chief Gen. Upendra Dwivedi, Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh and Navy Chief Adm. Dinesh Tripathi over the ongoing hostilities with Pakistan.
Later the Prime Minister also met the foreign minister and the foreign secretary. Mr Doval was also present during this meeting.
On Friday, Jammu and its neighbourhood again witnessed attempted drone strikes originating from Pakistan, prompting the authorities to alert the residents to the threat by activating sirens and cutting off electricity. The authorities said that drones were sighted in Jammu, Samba, Srinagar, Awantipora and Pathankot and that they were quickly “engaged” by advanced air defence systems.
The entire Kashmir Valley also plunged into darkness after the authorities snapped electricity at around 9.30 pm as a precautionary measure. As sirens blared, explosions were heard near the Srinagar airport. Reportedly, an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) was shot down near the Awantipora Air Force Station, about 5 km from the Pulwama town. Drones were also intercepted at Pokhran by the Indian air defence system.
Cities in Rajasthan, including Pokhran, Jaisalmer and other places, and in Punjab plunged into darkness as blackout was ordered. In fact a lockdown came into force in Jaisalmer after 4 pm.
As the air defence system, including the S-400, began to neutralise the drones sent apparently to target military stations and other sensitive sites, loud explosions were heard across Jammu, leaving residents on edge, as was the case on Thursday night.
A local journalist who lives in Jammu’s Roop Nagar area told this newspaper over the phone, "I can see a drone flying over the sky just right above our house. I think they are trying to target Nagrota (a Jammu suburb where the headquarters of the Indian Army’s 16 Corps, also known as White Knight Corps, are located).
Another Jammu resident, Nirmal Khajuria, spoken with by this newspaper, said, "These back-to-back attempts by Pakistan to target Jammu have heightened nervousness in people here. Although we know our defence authorities are capable of thwarting the danger."
J&K chief minister Omar Abdullah, who is in the town, posted on X, "Intermittent sounds of blasts, probably heavy artillery, can now be heard from where I am. Blackout in Jammu now. Sirens can be heard across the city."
Pushing the envelope, Pakistan on Thursday night had carried out large-scale violations of Indian airspace over the entire western border, attempting to target military infrastructure with 300-400 Turkish drones across 36 locations from Leh to Sir Creek. The Indian Army also suffered losses due to heavy shelling along the LoC and international border.
Indian forces neutralised many of these drones on Thursday night using kinetic and non-kinetic means. An armed UAV strike on Bhatinda on Thursday was also thwarted. India responded to Thursday's attack by launching armed drone strikes on four Pakistani air defence sites, destroying one air defence radar, said Col. Sofiya Qureshi of the Army and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh of the Air Force.
"The possible purpose of such large-scale aerial intrusions (by Pakistan) was to test air defence systems and collect intelligence," said Col. Qureshi, adding, "Forensic investigation of the wreckage of the drones is being done. Initial reports suggest that they are Turkish Asisguard Songar drones."
Col. Qureshi said Pakistan also carried out artillery shelling across the Line of Control using heavy calibre artillery guns and armed drones at Kandhan, Uri, Poonch, Mender, Rajouri, Akur and Udhampur in Jammu and Kashmir, which resulted in some losses and injuries to Indian Army personnel.
The Pakistan Army also suffered major losses in Indian retaliatory firing. The two military officials said Pakistan used its civil airliners as a "shield" as it did not close its civil airspace during its attempts to attack Indian installations with drones and missiles on May 7, knowing fully well that the strikes will elicit a swift response from India.
"Additionally, Pakistan's irresponsible behaviour again came to the fore as Pakistan did not close its civil airspace despite it launching a failed unprovoked drone and missile attack on May 7," said Col. Qureshi.
"Pakistan is using civil airliners as a shield, knowing fully well that its attack on India would elicit a swift air defence response. This is not safe for the unsuspecting civil airliners, including the international flights which were flying near the international border between India and Pakistan," she said.
The official also showed screenshots of flight movement on the website flightradar24. "In the high air defence alert situation in the Punjab sector, the airspace on the Indian side is absolutely devoid of civil air traffic due to our declared closure. However, there are civil airlines flying the air route between Karachi and Lahore," she said.
The Indian armed forces on early Wednesday carried out missile strikes on nine terror targets in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and Pakistan under Operation Sindoor in response to the Pahalgam terror attack.
