Jammu (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], May 8 (ANI): Pakistan fired eight missiles directed at Satwari, Samba, RS Pura, and Arnia, all of which were intercepted and blocked by air defence units, defence sources said on Thursday.
The sources stated that visuals over Jammu resemble Hamas-style attacks on Israel, featuring multiple inexpensive rockets. Pakistan’s military actions have drawn comparisons to the operational style of Hamas, with reports suggesting that ISI and Hamas recently met in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
Explosions were heard when Indian air defence intercepted Pakistani drones in Udhampur, Jammu and Kashmir. Similarly, Pakistani drones intercepted by Indian air defence in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, caused explosions and visible flashes in the sky.
Complete blackouts have been enforced in Bikaner (Rajasthan) and Jalandhar (Punjab), as well as in Kishtwar, Akhnoor, Samba, Jammu, and Amritsar.
Escalating its tensions with India, Pakistan targeted Jammu with loitering munitions on Thursday, prompting a counter-response from Indian Air Defence guns.
Following the Pahalgam terror attack, India launched Operation Sindoor to target terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and PoJK using precision strikes. India has stated that any attack on military installations will receive a suitable response.
At a media briefing on Thursday, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri emphasized that any escalation by Pakistan will be addressed appropriately.
“The original escalation was by Pakistan on the 22nd of April. We are the ones who are responding to that escalation with the action that was taken yesterday morning. And again, I would like to emphasize that the action was restrained; it was directed towards non-civilian, non-military targets; and confined to terrorist camps. Any further action by Pakistan will be responded to and is being responded to appropriately,” Misri stated.
Misri reiterated that India’s intention was not to escalate the situation.
“We are only responding to the original escalations. Our response has been targeted, precise, controlled, and measured, focusing solely on terrorist infrastructure,” he added.
During an all-party meeting on Thursday, sources said the government disclosed that over 100 terrorists were killed in India’s precision strikes on terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan early on Wednesday.
The Defence Ministry stated that on the night of May 7, Pakistan attempted to engage multiple 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 attempts were neutralised by the Integrated Counter UAS Grid and Air Defence systems. The debris from these attacks is being recovered from various locations,” the statement read.
The ministry noted that on Thursday morning, the Indian Armed Forces targeted Air Defence Radars and systems at multiple locations in Pakistan, responding in kind and with equal intensity. An Air Defence system in Lahore was reportedly neutralised.
The statement further noted that Pakistan had intensified its unprovoked firing along the Line of Control using mortars and heavy artillery in Kupwara, Baramulla, Uri, Poonch, Mendhar, and Rajouri sectors.
“Sixteen innocent lives have been lost, including three women and five children, due to Pakistani firing. India was compelled to respond to halt mortar and artillery fire from Pakistan. The Indian Armed Forces reiterated their commitment to non-escalation, provided the Pakistani military respects it,” the statement added. (ANI)
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