India is retaliating to the series of drone and missile attacks by Pakistan on Friday night, sources in the government said. This, even as Pakistan continues to target several locations in India, particularly in Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab.
The union government is scheduled to hold a detailed briefing on the attack launched by Pakistan and India’s retaliation at 10 am.
Early Saturday morning, Pakistan claimed India had fired missiles at three air bases, including one close to the capital, Islamabad, but their air defences intercepted most of them, Reuters reported.
“India through its planes, launched air to surface missiles… Nur Khan base, Mureed base, and Shorkot base were made targets,” Pakistan military spokesman Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said in a late-night televised statement, per Reuters.
In , Pakistani attempts to target the Air Force Station were thwarted, officials said. According to residents, explosions at intermittent intervals were being heard over the city until early morning. Rajouri city, meanwhile, came under heavy artillery shelling, with the main town being targeted.
Multiple explosions also rocked Pathankot just as dawn broke over the city. The intermittent explosions took place for at least half an hour, with anti-aircraft guns also firing in retaliation.
While there is no official word on which military installations in the town were targeted, the district administration has declared a state of high alert.
The roads were completely deserted, and residents were advised to stay indoors and avoid venturing out in the open until an all-clear siren was sounded.
Explosions were also heard in Srinagar, including near the airport, at 5.20 am, Baramulla at around 4.50 am, and Udhampur.
Earlier
The early morning escalation came hours after Pakistan, for the second consecutive night, launched swarms of drones targeting military installations in multiple cities along India’s northern and western borders.
While multiple drones were intercepted and shot down by air defence systems deployed by the Indian military, an armed drone fell in a civilian area in Ferozepur in Punjab, injuring members of a family.
On Friday night, the Indian Army said Pakistani drones were sighted at 26 locations – from Baramulla in J&K to Bhuj in Gujarat – along both the International Border and the Line of Control with Pakistan. The locations included Srinagar, Avantipora, Nagrota, Jammu, Ferozepur, Pathankot, Fazilka, Lalgarh Jatta, Jaisalmer, Barmer, Kuar Bet and Lakhi Nala.
The Army said these drones posed potential threats to civilian and military targets. Citizens, especially in border areas, were advised to remain indoors.
G7 Foreign Ministers issue statement
Early Saturday morning also saw a statement by the G7 Foreign Ministers. “We, the G7 Foreign Ministers of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States of America and the High Representative of the European Union, strongly condemn the egregious terrorist attack in Pahalgam on April 22 and urge maximum restraint from both India and Pakistan. Further military escalation poses a serious threat to regional stability. We are deeply concerned for the safety of civilians on both sides,” it read.
“We call for immediate de-escalation and encourage both countries to engage in direct dialogue towards a peaceful outcome. We continue to monitor events closely and express our support for a and lasting diplomatic resolution,” it read.
