India launched a counter-strike on Friday night following the interception of Pakistani drone attacks at 26 locations spanning Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab, Rajasthan, and Gujarat. This marked the second consecutive day of escalating hostilities by Islamabad, intensifying concerns over the potential for a full-scale conflict.
An armed drone strike injured three civilians in Punjab’s Ferozepur town.
According to the Indian Army, drones were spotted across a wide stretch of territory — from Baramulla and Srinagar in the north to Bhuj in the west — covering both the international border and the Line of Control.
“The Indian armed forces are maintaining a high state of alert. All aerial threats are being closely monitored and neutralized using counter-drone systems. The situation is being observed vigilantly, and immediate action is taken wherever required,” the army said in a statement.
These strikes followed a major escalation the previous day, during which Pakistan launched 300 to 400 Turkish-made armed drones targeting 36 locations within India. Some of the attacks were allegedly carried out under the cover of civilian airliners, aimed at Indian military positions. In response, New Delhi struck four Pakistani air defence systems, successfully neutralizing one.
Friday night’s Indian response was described as both “appropriate and proportionate,” according to sources. Notably, several civilian flights were active in and around Lahore and Islamabad during Pakistan’s drone attacks, reinforcing India’s accusation that Pakistan used commercial air traffic as a shield in its military aggression.
An armed Pakistani drone targeted a civilian area in Punjab’s Ferozepur on Friday, severely injuring several members of a local family. According to army officials, the injured were promptly given medical attention, and the area has been secured and sanitized by security forces.
Officials reported that the drones included both armed and surveillance types, posing potential threats to both civilian and military targets across India’s western and northern frontiers. Citizens, especially those in border regions, have been urged to remain indoors, restrict movement, and adhere strictly to advisories issued by local authorities. While officials emphasized there is no cause for panic, they stressed the need for heightened vigilance.
Friday night’s barrage of drone activity marked the third consecutive wave of Pakistani aggression since India launched Operation Sindoor early Wednesday morning, targeting nine terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). India had earlier foiled Pakistani drone and missile attacks on 15 locations Wednesday night, followed by repelling assaults on 36 sites Thursday night. Each time, Indian forces retaliated swiftly, damaging or neutralizing Pakistani air defence systems.
The most recent flare-up represents the most serious military standoff between the two nuclear-armed neighbours in decades, raising the spectre of a full-blown conflict. Air raid sirens blared and blackouts were enforced across cities and rural settlements from Srinagar to Jodhpur, and from Bilaspur to Ambala — a mere 200 km from the national capital. Dramatic visuals showed defense systems engaging enemy drones with golden tracer rounds and flashing intercepts lighting up the night sky.
“We heard loud blasts near our locality… everyone is panicking,” said Farooq Ahmad, a Baramulla resident. In border villages of Rajasthan, authorities evacuated locals as a precautionary measure.
The Indian government confirmed that between 8:30 p.m. Thursday and 4:30 a.m. Friday, Pakistani drones violated Indian airspace in a sweeping arc from Leh and Jammu in the north to Sir Creek in Kutch in the west. Pakistan simultaneously opened heavy artillery fire and launched drone attacks on several forward posts along the Line of Control (LoC), resulting in casualties among Indian soldiers.
Colonel Sofiya Qureshi stated that the scale of the drone incursion was likely aimed at targeting military installations, probing India’s air defence readiness, and gathering intelligence. Initial forensic analysis of the downed drones identified them as Turkish-made Asisguard Songar models.
In retaliation, India’s counterstrike targeted four Pakistani air defence positions, reportedly disabling one radar installation. “Our armed forces employed both kinetic (hard-kill) and non-kinetic (soft-kill) techniques to neutralize incoming drones,” added Col. Qureshi.
This marked the third official briefing since the conflict began, delivered by Col. Qureshi, Wing Commander Vyomika Singh, and Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri. The briefings underscored Pakistan’s alleged use of civilian airliners as shields for military attacks, as civilian flights continued to operate in the airspace near Lahore and Islamabad during drone launches.
“In contrast, India has suspended civilian air traffic in the region due to the elevated security threat,” Qureshi noted. She cited a specific example of a Flynas Airbus 320 flying from Dammam to Lahore during the strike window, highlighting India’s restraint in avoiding actions that could endanger international commercial flights.
The escalation follows a major terrorist attack on April 22 in Kashmir, where heavily armed militants killed 26 individuals — including 25 tourists, 24 of them Hindu — in the Baisaran grasslands near Pahalgam. The Resistance Front (TRF), a proxy of Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba, initially claimed responsibility. Indian agencies have since traced digital footprints linking the attack to Pakistani operatives.
Operation Sindoor, launched in the early hours of May 8 (between 1:04 a.m. and 1:30 a.m.), was India’s response. The strikes employed a mix of long-range cruise missiles like Scalp (launched from Rafale jets), Hammer smart munitions, guided bomb kits, M777 howitzers firing Excalibur shells, and loitering drones. Targets included facilities operated by UN-proscribed terror outfits such as Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed across the LoC and international border.
Later that day, Pakistan launched retaliatory attacks on 15 cities including Jammu, Srinagar, Pathankot, Amritsar, Ludhiana, Bathinda, Chandigarh, and Bhuj — cities that host major military assets. India responded by deploying its integrated air defence network comprising Akash surface-to-air missiles, anti-drone systems, and advanced radar and command systems. Kamikaze drones, including Israeli-made Harop models, were also used to strike Pakistani air defence infrastructure.
Col. Qureshi concluded that Pakistan’s refusal to close its airspace despite launching an unprovoked aerial assault was not only reckless but also endangered civil aviation in the region. In contrast, India’s measured and precise responses demonstrate its commitment to military restraint while maintaining defensive readiness.
