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India launched retaliatory operations towards Pakistan after air strikes and drone assaults on its border areas. Tensions between the 2 nations have escalated additional after a lethal terror assault in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam final month.
Jammu:
India began retaliatory operations, sources mentioned, after Pakistan escalated hostilities by opening air strikes and drone assaults within the border areas of Jammu and Kashmir and Rajasthan on Thursday night. Publish-midnight on Friday, the Indian Navy began operations within the Arabian Sea towards a number of targets in Pakistan, sources mentioned.
India had earlier underscored that whereas its actions are managed and measured, it might reply “in the identical area (and) with the identical depth” to assaults from Pakistan. “The Indian Armed Forces reiterate their dedication to non-escalation, offered it’s revered by the Pakistani army,” the federal government had mentioned.
The Indian retaliation got here after a number of hours of Pakistani airstrikes that began round 8.30 pm. It was Islamabad’s second try after its foiled bid to focus on 15 Indian cities early on Thursday.
The Pakistan military launched an assault on elements of Jammu and Kashmir and its army stations, Rajasthan, and later, pockets of Gujarat and Punjab.
Whereas the border areas in Jammu and Kashmir alongside the Line of Management and Worldwide Border witnessed heavy shelling, winter capital Jammu confronted relentless air strikes. Kamikaze drones had been additionally dropped on Rajasthan’s Jaisalmer. All missiles and drones had been efficiently intercepted. One was intercepted close to Sir Creek in Gujarat.
Learn: India Neutralises Pak Drones And Missiles Aimed At 15 Cities, Destroys Air Defence System
Shortly earlier than 9 pm, loud explosions had been heard from Jammu, adopted by the clamour of sirens and a blackout. Cellphone movies circulated by locals confirmed lights streaking throughout the sky, indicating interception of the missiles and drones by the Air Defence System of the armed forces.
With the activation of the Air Defence System, the sky lit up each different minute. On the bottom, there was appreciable pressure. Cellphone companies had been down in elements of town — an additional hurdle for locals making an attempt to get in contact with pals and family.
Eight missiles had been shot at Jammu and Kashmir’s RS Pura, Arnia, Samba, Hiranagar – areas with heavy army installations — which had been all intercepted by the Air Defence models.
Army Stations Focused
The Defence ministry mentioned army stations at Jammu, Pathankot and Udhampur had been focused by Pakistani-origin drones.
“The threats had been swiftly neutralised utilizing kinetic and non-kinetic capabilities in step with established Normal Working Procedures. No casualties or materials losses had been reported,” the ministry mentioned in a submit on X, previously Twitter.
Army stations at Jammu, Pathankot & Udhampur had been focused by Pakistani-origin #drones and missiles alongside the Worldwide Border in J&Ok at this time.
The threats had been swiftly neutralised utilizing kinetic and non-kinetic capabilities in step with established Normal Working…
— Ministry of Defence, Authorities of India (@SpokespersonMoD) Could 8, 2025
In a submit on X, previously Twitter, from its official deal with, the Data and Broadcasting Ministry mentioned, “India has negated Pakistan’s escalation bid with centered, measured and non-escalatory response. Indian armed forces reiterate their dedication to non-escalation, offered it’s revered by the Pakistani army”.
Pak F-16 Down
Sources mentioned the armed forces have shot down an F-16 supersonic fighter jet after it took off from the Sargodha air base in Pakistan.
The forces had deployed an Indian surface-to-air missile defence system, sources informed NDTV.
Pathankot Focused Too
Punjab’s Pathankot – simply 30 km from the Worldwide Border — additionally got here below heavy artillery hearth from Pakistan.
Town is a strategic and tactical space and serves because the entry level towards Jammu.
Blackouts In Punjab, Rajasthan, Gujarat
The border areas of Jammu and Kashmir are actually below full blackout. Blackout has additionally been declared in Chandigarh, Ferozepur, Mohali and Gurudaspur in Punjab and elements of Rajasthan — one other state that shares border with Pakistan. Blackout has been declared in Gujarat too.
IPL Match Cancelled
The IPL Cricket match between Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals, that was in progress at Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh, was cancelled.
The HPCA stadium was evacuated and its lights had been turned off as precautionary measure.
Further Safety At Airports, On Flights
The Bureau of Civil Aviation Safety has instructed all airways and airports throughout the nation to boost safety measures.
The improved measures would come with obligatory secondary safety checks for all passengers earlier than boarding, restricted terminal entry permitting solely passengers with legitimate tickets, full CCTV surveillance, Elevated deployment of air marshals on flights, tighter car and passenger checks at entry factors, together with random baggage screening.
What US Stated
Overseas minister S Jaishankar has spoken to the US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
“The Secretary emphasised the necessity for rapid de-escalation. He expressed US help for direct dialogue between India and Pakistan and inspired continued efforts to enhance communications,” mentioned US State Division Spokesperson Tammy Bruce.
Learn: ‘Will Reply In Measured Method However…’: What S Jaishankar Advised US On Pak
Earlier, Pak Focused 15 Cities
The assaults come a day after Operation Sindoor, precision strikes on the phobia bases in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir following the large terror assault on vacationers in Kashmir’s Pahalgam.
The federal government and the military have repeatedly underscored that the strikes had been non-escalatory, exact, managed and measured.
Pakistan hit again on Thursday with an try to focus on army installations in 15 cities, together with Srinagar, Pathankot, Amritsar, Ludhiana and Chandigarh, that acquired foiled by the Indian armed forces.
The army had responded by focusing on and neutralising Pakistani Air Defence Radars and methods in a number of areas, together with Lahore. Indian forces’ response, the federal government mentioned, was “in the identical area (and) with the identical depth” because the assaults launched by Pakistan.