After Pakistan’s failed attempt to hit military sites across northern and western India, India launched targeted airstrikes under Operation Sindoor, dismantling terror infrastructure and neutralising Pakistani air defence systems—all while avoiding civilian casualties and broader escalation.
New Delhi | May 8, 2025
In a major escalation of hostilities, Pakistan attempted a coordinated aerial strike on at least 15 Indian cities late Wednesday night and early Thursday morning, targeting key military installations across the northern and western sectors of the country. The Government of India has confirmed that all hostile drones and missiles were successfully intercepted and neutralised by Indian air defence systems, averting what could have been a large-scale military and civilian catastrophe.
The cities targeted included Awantipura, Srinagar, Jammu, Pathankot, Amritsar, Kapurthala, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Adampur, Bhatinda, Chandigarh, Nal, Phalodi, Uttarlai, and Bhuj. These locations house critical military and air force infrastructure.
According to an official statement from the Ministry of Defence, the attempted strike was repelled using India’s Integrated Counter-Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) Grid and its layered air defence network. Debris from downed drones and missiles is currently being recovered from multiple locations and will serve as evidence of Pakistan’s involvement.
In retaliation, Indian armed forces launched precision strikes early Thursday morning, targeting air defence installations inside Pakistan. It has been “reliably learnt” that an air defence system in Lahore was destroyed during this counter-operation.
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“The Indian response has been in the same domain and intensity as the Pakistani offensive,” the government statement said, stressing that while India remains committed to non-escalation, any attack on its military infrastructure will be met with a decisive and proportionate response.
Pakistan 'tried to' hit targets in atleast fifteen cities in India last night including Ludhiana, Amritsar, Bathinda, Adampur, Jalandhar etc but 'all of them' were neutralised by the Indian armed forces. In return, the air defence system in Lahore has been neutralised. Jai Hind.… pic.twitter.com/UmF47Eywyg
— Sandeep Jakhar (ਜਾਖੜ/जाखड़) (@SandeepJakharpb) May 8, 2025
The attempted Pakistani assault comes just a day after India launched “Operation Sindoor”, a high-precision military operation targeting nine terror camps—four in Pakistan and five in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). The operation, which lasted 25 minutes, was a response to the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam that killed 26 civilians. Over 100 terrorists, including senior commanders of Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed, were reportedly killed in the Indian air strikes.
Notably, during Operation Sindoor, Indian forces had refrained from targeting Pakistani military assets, underlining what officials described as a “focused, measured, and non-escalatory” mission.
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Following its failed aerial offensive, Pakistan has intensified shelling along the Line of Control (LoC), targeting civilian areas in Kupwara, Baramulla, Uri, Poonch, Mendhar, and Rajouri sectors of Jammu and Kashmir. The cross-border firing, involving heavy-calibre artillery and mortars, has resulted in the deaths of 16 Indian civilians, including three women and five children. One Indian soldier has also been confirmed killed.
In response, Indian forces have engaged Pakistani artillery positions to suppress ongoing shelling. The Government of India has reiterated that it remains committed to maintaining peace but will not hesitate to act when provoked.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, in an all-party briefing held Thursday morning, stated that Operation Sindoor remains active and warned that any further provocation from across the border would invite a strong and proportionate military response.
Below is the full official statement from the Government of India, released earlier today:
“During the Press Briefing on Operation SINDOOR on 07 May 2025, India had called its response as focused, measured and non-escalatory. It was specifically mentioned that Pakistani military establishments had not been targeted.
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It was also reiterated that any attack on military targets in India will invite a suitable response.
On the night of 07-08 May 2025, Pakistan attempted to engage a number of military targets in Northern and Western India including Awantipura, Srinagar, Jammu, Pathankot, Amritsar, Kapurthala, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Adampur, Bhatinda, Chandigarh, Nal, Phalodi, Uttarlai, and Bhuj using drones and missiles.
These were neutralised by the Integrated Counter UAS Grid and Air Defence systems.
The debris of these attacks is now being recovered from a number of locations that prove the Pakistani attacks.
Today morning Indian Armed Forces targeted Air Defence Radars and systems at a number of locations in Pakistan.
Indian response has been in the same domain with same intensity as Pakistan.
It has been reliably learnt that an Air Defence system at Lahore has been neutralised.
Pakistan has increased the intensity of its unprovoked firing across the Line of Control using Mortars and heavy calibre Artillery in areas in Kupwara, Baramulla, Uri, Poonch, Mendhar and Rajouri sectors in Jammu and Kashmir.
Sixteen innocent lives have been lost, including three women and five children, due to Pakistani firing.
Here too, India was compelled to respond to bring Mortar and Artillery fire from Pakistan to a halt.
Indian Armed Forces reiterate their commitment to non-escalation, provided it is respected by the Pakistani military.”
As tensions escalate, diplomatic channels remain open, but the situation along the LoC and international border continues to remain tense. Security agencies have been put on high alert, and additional deployments are underway to fortify vulnerable installations across the region.
