'Armed drones launched at air defence sites in Pakistan, radar destroyed': MEA on India's retaliation

NEW DELHI: The ministry of external affairs said on Friday that the Indian armed forces responded “proportionately, adequately, and responsibly” to Pakistan's provocative drone and artillery attacks on Thursday night. They also added that India in its retaliatory action launched armed drones at four Pakistani defence sites and destroyed its AD radar.The response followed Pakistan's large-scale violation of Indian airspace on the night of May 7 and 8, when it launched hundreds of drones and heavy artillery across the Line of Control (LoC) and International Border.Colonel Sofiya Qureshi explained the nature of the attack: “On the night of May 7 and 8, the Pakistani army violated Indian airspace several times over the entire western border with the intention of targeting military infrastructure. Not only this, the Pakistani army also fired heavy caliber weapons along the Line of Control. Around 300 to 400 drones were used to attempt infiltration at 36 locations. The Indian armed forces shot down many of these drones using kinetic and non-kinetic means. The possible purpose of such large-scale aerial intrusions was to test air defence systems and collect intelligence. Forensic investigation of the wreckage of the drones is being done. Initial reports suggest that they are Turkish Asisguard Songar drones...”India’s response included targeted drone strikes on Pakistani defence positions. Wing Commander Vyomika Singh said: “In response to the Pakistani attack, armed drones were launched at four air defence sites in Pakistan. One of the drones was able to destroy an AD radar. Pakistan also carried out artillery shelling across the line of control using heavy-calibre artillery guns and armed drones... which resulted in some losses and injuries to Indian army personnel. Pakistan army also suffered major losses in Indian retaliatory fire.”Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri strongly criticised Pakistan’s misadventure and its attempts to deny involvement: “These provocative and escalatory actions taken by Pakistan last night were targeted at Indian cities and civilian infrastructure in addition to military establishments. Indian armed forces responded proportionately, adequately, and responsibly... The official and blatantly farsical denial of these attacks that Pakistan carried out, by the Pakistani state machinery is another example of their duplicity and the new depths, they are plumbing to...”India’s action was part of 'Operation Sindoor', a counter-terror operation launched on May 7. It targeted nine terror launchpads in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). This operation followed the deadly terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam on April 22, which claimed 26 lives.