Underlining that Pakistan’s actions overnight have been “escalatory” and “provocative”, India on Saturday said that Pakistan’s military attempted air intrusions at more than 26 locations from Srinagar to Nalia, which the Indian military was able to “neutralise”.
India also said that it “engaged with” Pakistan’s military targets at six locations – Rafiki, Murid, Chaklala, Rahim Yar Khan, Sukkur and Juniya – using “air-launched precision weapons” from Indian fighter aircraft. This led to the targeting of their radar sites at two places using precision munitions.
also said that Pakistan’s military has been observed to be “moving their troops into forward areas”, indicating offensive intent to further escalate the situation.
Sharing these details, Col Sofiya Qureshi and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh, who did the briefing along with Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, said, “Indian armed forces remain in a high state of operational readiness.”
“Actions have been effectively countered and responded appropriately. Indian armed forces reiterate their commitment to non-escalation, provided it is reciprocated by the Pakistan military,” Wing Commander Singh said.
Wing Commander Singh and Col Qureshi said that Pakistan employed drones, long-range weapons, loitering munitions and fighter aircraft to target civilian areas and military infrastructure all along the western border.
Wing Commander Singh said, “Pakistan military also resorted to drones and firing of heavy calibre weapons along the Line of Control and the International Border.”
She said that air intrusion was attempted from Srinagar till Nalia at more than 26 locations, and Indian armed forces successfully neutralised these threats.
“However, limited damage was sustained to equipment and personnel at Indian Air Force stations at Udhampur, Pathankot, Adampur and Bhuj,” Wing Commander Singh said.
She said that there were also several “high-speed missile attacks noticed subsequently, after 0140 hours in the night at several air bases in Punjab, in a deplorable and cowardly act”.
Col Qureshi also said that “targeting of civil infrastructure” took place where Pakistan attacked the health care centre and school premises at the Air Base of Srinagar, Avantipur and Udhampur — “yet again, displaying irresponsible targeting of our civil infrastructure”.
“In a and calibrated response, Indian armed forces carried out precision attacks only on identified military targets. These included technical infrastructure, command and control centres, radar sites and weapon storage areas. Pakistan military targets at Rafiki, Murid, Chaklala, Rahim Yar Khan, Sukkur and Juniya were engaged using air-launched precision weapons from our fighter aircraft. Radar sites at Pasroor and Sialkot aviation were all targeted using precision munitions,” she said, adding that while carrying out these responses, India ensured minimum collateral damage.
Wing Commander Singh and Col Qureshi said that Pakistan has attempted multiple air intrusions using drones and conducted shelling using heavy calibre guns targeting civilian infrastructure and killing some civilians, and indulged in heavy exchange of small arms fire in Kupwara, Baramulla, Poonch, Rajouri and Akhnoor. “Indian Army has responded effectively and proportionately, causing extensive damage to the Pakistan Army,” it said.
They also rejected Pakistan’s “malicious misinformation campaign with claims of destruction of the Indian air force station at Adhampur, destruction of airfields at Sirsa, BrahMos base at Nagrota”. They showed pictures of Air Force stations in Sirsa and Suratgarh to make their point that the infrastructure has not been damaged.
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri also rejected claims by Pakistani state agencies about attacking and destroying various places, various military installations and facilities.
He also stressed that Pakistan continues with its “campaign of targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure”, especially in the states of and Kashmir and Punjab.
