Rising Tensions Reignite Across the Border
In a dramatic escalation of hostilities, Indian forces successfully intercepted and neutralized a series of drone and missile attacks launched by Pakistan late Wednesday night and early Thursday morning. The Pakistani offensive targeted military installations in 15 Indian cities, particularly across the northern and western states including Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, and Gujarat. India’s swift and proportionate military response not only defused the immediate threat but also dealt a significant blow to Pakistan’s air defence capabilities in a retaliatory move described as precise, calculated, and restrained.
Operation Sindoor: The Trigger Point
The renewed military confrontation follows India’s precision strikes—codenamed Operation Sindoor—against terror camps located in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). Conducted early Wednesday, the operation involved a barrage of 24 advanced munitions, including HAMMER smart bombs and SCALP missiles, and reportedly killed over 100 terrorists. These camps, according to intelligence sources, belonged to groups such as The Resistance Front, a Lashkar-e-Taiba proxy.
This decisive action came in response to the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, where four terrorists killed 26 people, including civilians, in the tourist-heavy Baisaran Valley. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had vowed retribution, and Operation Sindoor was the direct fulfilment of that promise.
Pakistan’s Retaliation and India’s Swift Countermeasures
In an apparent retaliation for Operation Sindoor, Pakistan launched a multi-pronged attack involving drones, loitering munitions, and missiles directed at strategic Indian military facilities. The cities targeted included Srinagar, Pathankot, Amritsar, Ludhiana, and others with significant military presence. However, Indian air defence systems, including the Russian-origin S-400 missile system, intercepted all incoming threats, preventing any casualties or material damage.
Indian forces responded “in the same domain and with the same intensity,” according to government sources. The retaliation included the use of HARPY drones to destroy several Pakistani air defence systems, notably in locations like Lahore. The Indian government emphasized that while the response was robust, it remained non-escalatory and adhered to international norms and internal standard operating procedures.
Multi-Domain Defence: A Unified Armed Response
The Indian Army, Air Force, and Navy coordinated effectively in real-time to neutralize the incoming threats. Alongside missile interception in Jammu’s RS Pura, Arnia, Samba, and Hiranagar regions, India also countered drone incursions over Rajasthan’s Jaisalmer and foiled Pakistani movements near Sir Creek in Gujarat.
Additionally, reports indicate that the Indian Air Force shot down a Pakistani F-16 that had taken off from the Sargodha air base. Simultaneously, the Indian Navy launched operations in the Arabian Sea to intercept Pakistani maritime assets possibly linked to the offensive.
Blackouts were implemented in sensitive zones to avoid collateral damage and ensure operational security. The joint forces’ response reflects India’s preparedness and strategic capability in addressing hybrid threats across land, air, and sea.
Defending Sovereignty with Strategic Clarity
The recent sequence of events highlights a critical juncture in Indo-Pak relations, where military readiness, intelligence coordination, and strategic restraint have combined to avert escalation while defending national integrity. India’s ability to intercept every drone and missile aimed at its territory without loss of life underscores both technological superiority and disciplined military conduct. While the threat from state-sponsored terrorism remains acute, India’s message is unambiguous: it will not hesitate to retaliate decisively when provoked, but will do so within the bounds of international responsibility and national resolve.
(With agency inputs)
