Aerial attacks by Pakistan, the epicenter of terror, were foiled by India's air defenses amid blackouts and sirens
New Delhi/Washington: In one of the most tense moments after the 1971 war, India and Pakistan were caught in a deadly war game after the barbaric Pahalgam terror attack, which took 26 lives, as global diplomatic efforts were afoot to douse the confrontation.
Aerial attacks by Pakistan targeting Jammu as well as several military stations near the western border were successfully foiled by India’s air defence systems on Thursday night, with the armed forces saying no damage had been caused.
The attempted strike, involving drones and missiles, triggered blackouts and sirens across several areas in Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, and Rajasthan. Authorities urged residents to remain indoors and vigilant as emergency protocols were activated. The Indian Premier League 2025 match between Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals at the HPCA Stadium in Dharamshala was called off midway as a precautionary measure.
According to the Integrated Defense Staff, there was no damage to the military stations, including Jammu and Udhampur. "Military Stations of Jammu, Pathankot, and Udhampur in proximity to the International Boundary, in Jammu and Kashmir, targeted by Pakistan using missiles and drones. No losses. Threat neutralised by #IndianArmedForces as per SoP with kinetic and non-kinetic means", the IDS said in a post on X.
According to sources, the Indian air defences neutralized several drones launched near the Jammu airport, with no casualties reported. Moreover, eight missiles were intercepted near Jammu - all of them successfully destroyed, according to media reports. The attack also caused a temporary blackout at the Vaishno Devi shrine in Reasi district, with similar power outages reported in Srinagar under heightened security measures.
India then reportedly undertook retaliatory action against Pakistan in the wake of the attacks. An F-16 supersonic fighter jet of the Pakistan Air Force was shot down in the evening by an Indian surface-to-air missile defense system, NDTV reported, quoting sources. The F-16 took off from the Sargodha air base and was shot down near it, it reported, as per the sources.
(Graphic courtesy: PIB/X@BJP4India)
This offensive by Pakistan came just hours after its earlier attempt to target 15 Indian cities was thwarted. Army officer Colonel Sofiya Qureshi and Air Force Wing Commander Vyomika Singh confirmed that cities and towns such as Awantipora, Srinagar, Jammu, Pathankot, Amritsar, Kapurthala, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Adampur, Bathinda, Chandigarh, Nal, Phalodi, Uttarlai, and Bhuj were on the target list.
However, India’s integrated counter-UAS grid and robust air defense systems successfully neutralize all threats. Debris recovered from various locations confirmed that the drones and missiles originated from Pakistani territory. In a swift retaliatory strike, Indian armed forces targeted and destroyed several Pakistani air defence systems, including a key installation in Lahore.
De-escalation moves onExternal Affairs Minister S Jaishankar spoke with counterparts from several countries, including the United States, late on Thursday night (May 8), asserting India's strong resolve to firmly counter any attempts at escalation being made by Pakistan. Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke with both Jaishankar and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and emphasized the need for immediate de-escalation, supporting direct dialogue between the two nuclear-armed nations. Jaishankar also took to X and thanked the United States for its commitment to work with India in the fight against terrorism. In addition, the minister also spoke with Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi and Saudi Arabia’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Adel al-Jubeir. In a telecon with Italian counterpart Antonio Tajani, Jaishankar made India’s stand loud and clear that India was measured in its response but if the neighbouring nation escalates attack, it will be given a firm blow. |
