New Delhi: In a dramatic escalation along the western front, Indian air defence systems, including the advanced S-400 and Akash missile systems, successfully intercepted and neutralised a wave of missiles and drones launched from Pakistan on Wednesday night. The coordinated assault targeted multiple Indian military installations, but resulted in no casualties or infrastructure damage, defence sources confirmed.
Sources said a Pakistan F-16 was shot down by the Indian forces.
According to official sources, eight Pakistani missiles were intercepted over key locations in Jammu and Kashmir—Satwari, Samba, RS Pura, and Arnia. The pattern and scale of the attack drew comparisons to recent Hamas-style tactics used in the Middle East, with Indian defence officials alleging that Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) held meetings with Hamas operatives last month in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).
Indian Armed Forces responded swiftly under standard operating procedures (SOPs), employing both kinetic and non-kinetic countermeasures to eliminate the threat. Drones were also reported along the western front, with Indian counter-UAS systems effectively identifying and neutralising hostile UAVs.
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) later confirmed that Pakistan’s attempted strikes targeted 15 strategic military locations across Northern and Western India, including Awantipura, Srinagar, Pathankot, Amritsar, Chandigarh, and Bhuj. No aircraft were deployed in the attack; instead, Pakistan relied heavily on armed drones, loitering munitions, and ballistic missiles.
India’s Integrated Air Command & Control System (IACCS), supported by a network of radars, played a key role in detecting the incursion. The system promptly relayed the intelligence to ground-based air defence units, which launched interceptors to eliminate the threats mid-air. Debris from the downed projectiles is currently being collected for analysis and confirmation of the origins.
In a calibrated response, the Indian Armed Forces deployed kamikaze drones to strike multiple military sites inside Pakistan. Sources revealed that a Pakistani air defence system in Lahore was successfully neutralised, marking a significant breach of Pakistan’s aerial defences.
Pakistan’s military, through its Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), confirmed that Indian drones had targeted several locations including Attock, Gujranwala, Rawalpindi, Bahawalpur, and Karachi. While Islamabad claims most of the threats were intercepted, it acknowledged injuries to four military personnel in Lahore and the loss of certain air defence assets, including the Chinese-made HQ-9B system.
External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar briefed international partners, including U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, regarding the situation. He stated that India’s response to Pakistan’s provocation was “measured and precise.”
As tensions continue to rise, Indian defence forces remain on high alert, with enhanced surveillance and readiness across the western front under the ongoing Operation Sindoor.
