New Delhi: In a decisive and calibrated military response, India carried out precision airstrikes on eight Pakistani military installations early Saturday following a wave of cross-border attacks targeting key Indian Air Force bases. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) confirmed the strikes came after Pakistan launched drones, loitering munitions, missiles, and fighter jets against Indian military and civilian infrastructure along the western border and the Line of Control.
Colonel Sophia Qureshi, addressing a media briefing, reported that Indian airbases at Udhampur, Pathankot, Adampur, Bhuj, and Bathinda sustained limited damage, with some equipment and personnel affected. Pakistan also struck civilian areas, including medical facilities and school premises, in Srinagar, Avantipur, and Udhampur — actions the Indian government condemned as reckless and in violation of international norms.
Colonel Qureshi stated that, “In a swift and calibrated response, Indian Armed Forces executed precise strikes targeting only military infrastructure,” with the Indian Air Force deploying air-launched precision munitions to hit Rafiqui Airbase, Murid Airbase, Chaklala Airbase, Rahim Yar Khan Base, Sukkur Military Facility, Chuniya Installation, the Pasrur Radar Site, and the Sialkot Aviation Base.
The MEA emphasized that these targets were carefully chosen to degrade Pakistan’s offensive drone and air capabilities while minimizing collateral damage.
Meanwhile, Pakistan intensified artillery shelling along the Line of Control and International Border, impacting areas in Kupwara, Baramulla, Poonch, Rajouri, and Akhnoor. Tragically, Rajouri’s Additional District Development Commissioner was killed in the shelling, and civilians in Ferozepur and Jalandhar sustained injuries.
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri condemned Pakistan’s use of civilian airliners during military operations, calling it irresponsible and potentially dangerous. “India, in contrast, declared airspace closures and demonstrated restraint to safeguard international civil aviation,” he noted.
Misri also debunked Pakistan’s claims of having destroyed Indian military installations, describing them as a “tissue of lies.” He presented timestamped satellite images of Indian bases in Adampur, Suratgarh, Sirsa, Nagrota, and Chandigarh, showing them fully operational and undamaged.
The MEA concluded that India’s strikes were “limited, focused, and designed to send a clear message without escalating the situation unnecessarily.”
