India hits identified military targets in Pakistan in retaliatory precision strikes

NEW DELHI: India on Saturday carried out retaliatory precision strikes at identified military targets in Pakistan after Islamabad fired several high-speed missiles at Indian air bases."After Pakistan deliberately targeted air bases, Indian armed forces took a quick and well-planned retaliatory action and targeted technical installations, command & control centres, radar sites and arms store.Pakistan military bases at Rafiqui, Murid, Chaklala, Rahim Yar Khan, Sukkur and Chunian were targeted through air launch, precision ammunition and fighter jets. Radar site in Pasrur and aviation base in Sialkot were also targeted with precision ammunition. During these actions, India ensured minimum collateral damage and losses," Colonel Sofiya Qureshi said at a special government briefing on Operation Sindoor.Giving details of Pakistani aggression during the night, Col Sofiya Qureshi said: "Pakistani army is continuously attacking the western borders; it has used drones, long-range weapons, loitering munitions and fighter jets to attack India's military sites. India neutralised many dangers, but Pakistan tried to infiltrate via Air at more than 26 places, and they damaged our equipment and personnel at air force bases in Udhampur, Bhuj, Pathankot, Bathinda. They used high-speed missiles at 1.40am to target Punjab's air base. They even attacked health facilities and schools."India reiterated that it was only responding to Pakistani provocations."I have said on numerous earlier occasions, it is Pakistani actions that have constituted provocations and escalations. In response, India has defended and reacted in a responsible and measured fashion to these provocations and escalations by the Pakistani side. Earlier this morning, we saw a repeat of this escalatory and provocative pattern," foreign secretary Vikram Misri said.Early on Saturday, multiple explosions were heard at several locations in Pakistan pointing to Indian punitive action. Pakistan had claimed that its three air bases were targeted - Nur Khan air base in the garrison city of Rawalpindi near the capital Islamabad, Murid air base in Chakwal city and Rafiqui air base in the Jhang district of eastern Punjab province.Wing Commander Vyomika Singh said that Pakistan Army was moving its troops towards forward areas, indicating an offensive intent to further escalation. "Indian armed forces remain in a high state of operational readiness, and all hostile actions have been effectively countered and responded proportionately. Indian armed forces reiterated their commitment to non-escalation, provided the Pakistan side reciprocates," she said.Meanwhile, government slammed Pakistan for attempting to execute a continued malicious misinformation campaign, with claims of destruction of the Indian S-400 system, destruction of airfields at Surat and Sirsa."India unequivocally rejects these false claims being spread by Pakistan," the government said and showed time-stamped images of undamaged Indian air bases to debunk Pakistan claims.(With inputs from agencies)