New Delhi: In a sharp escalation following Operation Sindoor, India has issued a stern warning to Pakistan after multiple attempts were made to violate Indian airspace using loitering munitions. According to top government sources, these precision-guided weapons were launched during the night with the intent to target radar installations along the Indian border. However, the Indian Air Force (IAF), on high alert, intercepted and neutralized the threats before they could cause any damage.
Loitering munitions—often referred to as kamikaze drones—are advanced aerial weapons that combine the features of drones and missiles. Unlike traditional missiles that are launched at a specific target, loitering munitions are designed to hover in an area, autonomously or under human control, until a suitable target is identified. Upon target acquisition, the munition dives into the target and detonates, destroying both itself and the objective.
Sources familiar with the situation indicated that remnants of Pakistani munitions were recovered in Indian border states, particularly Punjab. Among the debris, parts of a PL-15E missile—an export variant of the Chinese PL-15—were discovered in Hoshiarpur, further pointing to foreign involvement in Pakistan’s latest provocations.
India has emphasized that its response has so far been measured. “We have robust air defense systems that have effectively managed the threat and avoided escalation. Our retaliation during Operation Sindoor targeted only terror hideouts, avoiding civilian or military installations in Pakistan,” the sources stated. They also highlighted the contrast with Pakistan’s alleged targeting of civilian populations, including minority Sikh communities in Poonch.
Social media was flooded with images of the destroyed Pakistani munitions, drawing further public attention to the failed incursion. Meanwhile, Indian authorities continue to monitor the situation closely amid fears of further provocations.
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri addressed the media for the first time since Operation Sindoor, stating unequivocally, “India will respond decisively to any misadventure from Pakistan.” Government sources also did not rule out the possibility of further military operations if the situation on the ground deteriorates.
India maintains that Operation Sindoor was a targeted operation against terror infrastructure sheltered within Pakistani territory—specifically those linked to groups like Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Taiba, which have long been accused of fueling unrest in Kashmir. Officials reiterated that any future responses would continue to focus solely on counter-terrorism objectives, in stark contrast to what they described as Pakistan’s “reckless and provocative behavior.”
