Operation Sindoor: Our air defence neutralised 300-400 Pak drones last night, Foreign Secretary Misri

Operation Sindoor: India on Friday said that the Pakistani army repeatedly violated Indian airspace during the night of May 7 and 8 across the western border. During a press briefing on the ongoing India-Pakistan tensions, Colonel Sofiya Qureshi said Pakistan’s intrusion was aimed at targeting not only Indian military infrastructure but also places of worship.

Addressing the media alongside Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh, Colonel Qureshi said Pakistan also carried out heavy-calibre shelling along the Line of Control (LoC).

“Approximately 300 to 400 drones attempted infiltration at 36 different locations. The Indian armed forces responded swiftly, neutralising many of these drones through both kinetic and non-kinetic measures,” she said. Qureshi added that the likely objectives of this large-scale aerial operation were to test India’s air defence capabilities and to gather intelligence.

“A forensic examination of the drone debris is currently underway,” she noted. Preliminary findings indicate that the drones used were Turkish-made Asisguard Songar models.

Also read: ‘Pahalgam attack was original escalation’: India counters Pakistan’s disinformation after Operation Sindoor

Pakistan used civilian flights as cover

India said that Pakistan failed to close its airspace on Thursday while secretly launching Turkish-made drones targeting Indian cities.

“Despite initiating an unprovoked aerial attack, Pakistan continued to allow civilian aircraft to operate in its airspace, creating a dangerous situation during heightened military tensions,” Col Qureshi said.

Wing Commander Vyomika Singh added, “Pakistan is using civil airliners as a shield, fully aware that its attack on India would provoke a swift air defence response. This endangers unsuspecting civilian airliners, including international flights flying near the International Border.”

India targets Pak air defence sites

Wing Commander Singh stated that in response to Pakistan’s aggression, India launched armed drones targeting four air defence sites across the border. One of the drones successfully destroyed a Pakistani air defence radar.

She added that Pakistan also resorted to heavy artillery shelling along the LoC, using heavy-calibre guns and armed drones. This resulted in casualties and injuries among Indian Army personnel.

However, Singh noted that Pakistan’s army suffered significant losses due to India’s retaliatory strikes, demonstrating the effectiveness of India’s response.

Pakistani strikes target places of worship

Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri condemned Pakistan for targeting places of worship, calling it a “new low even for Pakistan”.

Misri said the strikes were aimed not just at Indian military positions but also at cities and civilian infrastructure. He confirmed that the Indian Armed Forces responded appropriately and responsibly.

Highlighting Pakistan’s contradictory claims, Misri criticised Islamabad’s denial of the attacks as an example of “clear duplicity”.

“It is Pakistan’s deranged fantasy that we would attack our own cities,” he said, rejecting Pakistan’s claim outright.

He further said that Pakistan is desperately attempting to create communal discord. “India’s unity remains steadfast and is a challenge to Pakistan,” Misri said, adding that Pakistan was trying to communalise the situation by targeting Gurudwaras and temples along the LoC.

When asked the Kartarpur Sahib corridor, Misri said, “In view of the existing security scenario, the services of the Kartarpur Sahib Corridor have been suspended till further directions.”

Also read: India Pakistan tensions: India foils Pak military’s attempts to engage targets in North, West