The Indian government on Friday said that on the night of May 7 and 8, the Pakistani army violated Indian airspace several times over the entire western border with the intention of targeting military infrastructure.
"The Pakistani army also fired heavy-calibre weapons along the Line of Control. Around 300 to 400 drones were used to attempt infiltration at 36 locations," said Colonel Sofiya Qureshi during the press conference.
Indian armed forces are analysing the drones and as per initial reports, these were Turkey's SONGAR drones, said Col Qureshi.
ALSO READ: India tears into Pakistan’s false claim that Indian forces targeted Amritsar, calls them 'preposterous and outrageous'
A Pakistani UAV also tried to attack the military station in Bhatinda, but the attempt was thwarted, she added.
The Indian armed forces shot down many of these drones using kinetic and non-kinetic means.
"The possible purpose of such large-scale aerial intrusions was to test air defence systems and collect intelligence. Forensic investigation of the wreckage of the drones is being done. Initial reports suggest that they are Turkish Asisguard Songar drones..."
ALSO READ: S-400 Triumph missile systems, Barak-8 and Akash missiles were used to thwart Pakistan offensive: Sources
From Leh to Sir Creek, the Pakistani army used drones for infiltration, said the Indian government.
Pakistan is using a civil airliner as a shield, knowing fully well that its attack on India would elicit a swift air defence response, she said.
Indian Air Force demonstrated considerable restraint in its response, thus ensuring the safety of international civil carriers, she added.
“The Gurudwara in Poonch, in particular, was attacked by Pakistan, and some local members of the Sikh community lost their lives in this incident… A disinformation is coming from Pakistan of India targeting the Nankana Sahib Gurudwara through a drone attack. This is again a lie and a part of Pakistan's disinformation campaign.”
Instead of owning up to its actions, Pakistan made the preposterous and outrageous claims that it is the Indian armed forces that is targeting its own cities like Amritsar and trying to blame Pakistan, Misri said.
Pakistan spread disinformation that India targeted the Nankama Sahib Gurdwara through a drone attack, which is yet another "blatant lie", he added.
"Pakistan is trying desperately to impart a communal hue to the situation with an intention to create a communal discord..."
Misri especially hit out at Pakistan for its "blatantly farcical denial" of these attacks saying it is yet another example of Islamabad's duplicity and the "new depths" that it is plumbing to in its "quest for disinformation".
The foreign secretary's remarks came as tensions between the two countries soared significantly following India's strike on terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied-Kashmir under Operation Sindoor' early Wednesday.
Misri was severely critical of Pakistan for targeting religious places with an aim to give a communal colour to the current situation, and pointed to an incident of Pakistan attacking a gurdwara in Poonch and another religious place in Amritsar.
"Instead of owning up to these attacks, Pakistan made the preposterous and outrageous claim that it was the Indian armed forces and the Indian Air Force that was targeting cities like Amritsar and trying to put the blame on Pakistan," he said.
"This is nothing but a desperate attempt by Pakistan to disown its acts of aggression; but it is also true to its efforts to deceive and mislead the world. It will not succeed," Misri said.
He said that "we would attack our own cities" is the kind of deranged fantasy that only the Pakistani state can come up with.
Perhaps they do it because they are well versed in such action as their history would show, he said.
Misri described it as a "blatant lie" Pakistan's allegations of India targeting the Nankana Sahib Gurdwara using a drone.
"This is again yet another blatant lie and part of Pakistan's disinformation campaign. As we saw in the Pahalgam attack, Pakistan is again trying desperately to impart a communal hue to the situation with an intention to create discord," he said.
"Again, we are not surprised. India's steadfast unity in itself is a challenge to Pakistan," he said.
"In response to Pakistan's attack, drones were launched against four Pakistani military installations. One of these drones was able to destroy an AD (air defence) radar. Pakistan, however, used heavy artillery and drones to conduct attacks in Jammu and Kashmir's Uri, Poonch, Rajouri, Akhnoor, etc., injuring some of the Indian soldiers," Col Qureshi said.
"Military stations at Jammu, Pathankot and Udhampur were targeted by Pakistani-origin drones and missiles along the International Border in Jammu and Kashmir today," a defence ministry spokesperson said.
Military sources said missiles from Pakistan were also directed at Jammu's Satwari, Samba, RS Pura and Arnia towns and that they were blocked by India's air defence systems.
In its statement, the Foreign Office said the government of Pakistan categorically rejects the "baseless and irresponsible allegations propagated by the Indian media, accusing Pakistan of launching attacks on Pathankot, Jaisalmer and Srinagar".
"These claims are entirely unfounded, politically motivated and part of a reckless propaganda campaign aimed at maligning Pakistan," it said.
"These allegations are rejected in the strongest possible terms," it added.
The Foreign Office said the repeated pattern of levelling accusations against Pakistan without any credible investigation reflects a deliberate strategy to manufacture a pretext for aggression and to further destabilise the region.
"Such actions not only further endanger regional peace but also reveal a disturbing willingness to exploit misinformation for political and military ends," it said.
Pakistan also urged the international community to take serious note of this "dangerous behaviour" and to counsel India towards restraint and responsibility.
Any escalation based on false pretenses will be met with full resolve and determination to safeguard Pakistan's sovereignty and territorial integrity, it said.
Pakistan remains vigilant and firmly committed to peace, but it will not be deterred by attempts to provoke, intimidate, or mislead and reserves the right to respond to acts of aggression, the statement said.
Tensions between India and Pakistan soared after terrorists killed 26 people, mostly, civilians, in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam.
In a powerful retaliation to the Pahalgam massacre, Indian armed forces early Wednesday carried out missile strikes on the terror targets, including Bahawalpur, a stronghold of the Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) terror group.
#Operation Sindoor
Indian armed forces are analysing the drones and as per initial reports, these were Turkey's SONGAR drones, said Col Qureshi.
ALSO READ: India tears into Pakistan’s false claim that Indian forces targeted Amritsar, calls them 'preposterous and outrageous'
A Pakistani UAV also tried to attack the military station in Bhatinda, but the attempt was thwarted, she added.
The Indian armed forces shot down many of these drones using kinetic and non-kinetic means.
"The possible purpose of such large-scale aerial intrusions was to test air defence systems and collect intelligence. Forensic investigation of the wreckage of the drones is being done. Initial reports suggest that they are Turkish Asisguard Songar drones..."
ALSO READ: S-400 Triumph missile systems, Barak-8 and Akash missiles were used to thwart Pakistan offensive: Sources
From Leh to Sir Creek, the Pakistani army used drones for infiltration, said the Indian government.
Pakistan using civil airliner as a shield
Pakistan did not close its civil airspace despite it launching a failed unprovoked drone and missile attack on 7 May at 08:30 hours in the evening, said Wing Commander Vyomika Singh during the press conference.Pakistan is using a civil airliner as a shield, knowing fully well that its attack on India would elicit a swift air defence response, she said.
Indian Air Force demonstrated considerable restraint in its response, thus ensuring the safety of international civil carriers, she added.
'A new low for Pakistan'
Pakistani side targeted places of worship with a particular design, and it is a new low even for Pakistan, said Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri.“The Gurudwara in Poonch, in particular, was attacked by Pakistan, and some local members of the Sikh community lost their lives in this incident… A disinformation is coming from Pakistan of India targeting the Nankana Sahib Gurudwara through a drone attack. This is again a lie and a part of Pakistan's disinformation campaign.”
Instead of owning up to its actions, Pakistan made the preposterous and outrageous claims that it is the Indian armed forces that is targeting its own cities like Amritsar and trying to blame Pakistan, Misri said.
Pakistan spread disinformation that India targeted the Nankama Sahib Gurdwara through a drone attack, which is yet another "blatant lie", he added.
"Pakistan is trying desperately to impart a communal hue to the situation with an intention to create a communal discord..."
Misri especially hit out at Pakistan for its "blatantly farcical denial" of these attacks saying it is yet another example of Islamabad's duplicity and the "new depths" that it is plumbing to in its "quest for disinformation".
The foreign secretary's remarks came as tensions between the two countries soared significantly following India's strike on terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied-Kashmir under Operation Sindoor' early Wednesday.
Misri was severely critical of Pakistan for targeting religious places with an aim to give a communal colour to the current situation, and pointed to an incident of Pakistan attacking a gurdwara in Poonch and another religious place in Amritsar.
"Instead of owning up to these attacks, Pakistan made the preposterous and outrageous claim that it was the Indian armed forces and the Indian Air Force that was targeting cities like Amritsar and trying to put the blame on Pakistan," he said.
"This is nothing but a desperate attempt by Pakistan to disown its acts of aggression; but it is also true to its efforts to deceive and mislead the world. It will not succeed," Misri said.
He said that "we would attack our own cities" is the kind of deranged fantasy that only the Pakistani state can come up with.
Perhaps they do it because they are well versed in such action as their history would show, he said.
Misri described it as a "blatant lie" Pakistan's allegations of India targeting the Nankana Sahib Gurdwara using a drone.
"This is again yet another blatant lie and part of Pakistan's disinformation campaign. As we saw in the Pahalgam attack, Pakistan is again trying desperately to impart a communal hue to the situation with an intention to create discord," he said.
"Again, we are not surprised. India's steadfast unity in itself is a challenge to Pakistan," he said.
India hits back
India gave a befitting reply to Pakistan's attempts to violate India's airspace."In response to Pakistan's attack, drones were launched against four Pakistani military installations. One of these drones was able to destroy an AD (air defence) radar. Pakistan, however, used heavy artillery and drones to conduct attacks in Jammu and Kashmir's Uri, Poonch, Rajouri, Akhnoor, etc., injuring some of the Indian soldiers," Col Qureshi said.
What happened on May 8-9
India on Thursday night neutralised Pakistan military's attempt to hit military stations in Jammu, Pathankot, Udhampur and some other locations with missiles and drones, according to officials."Military stations at Jammu, Pathankot and Udhampur were targeted by Pakistani-origin drones and missiles along the International Border in Jammu and Kashmir today," a defence ministry spokesperson said.
Military sources said missiles from Pakistan were also directed at Jammu's Satwari, Samba, RS Pura and Arnia towns and that they were blocked by India's air defence systems.
In its statement, the Foreign Office said the government of Pakistan categorically rejects the "baseless and irresponsible allegations propagated by the Indian media, accusing Pakistan of launching attacks on Pathankot, Jaisalmer and Srinagar".
"These claims are entirely unfounded, politically motivated and part of a reckless propaganda campaign aimed at maligning Pakistan," it said.
"These allegations are rejected in the strongest possible terms," it added.
The Foreign Office said the repeated pattern of levelling accusations against Pakistan without any credible investigation reflects a deliberate strategy to manufacture a pretext for aggression and to further destabilise the region.
"Such actions not only further endanger regional peace but also reveal a disturbing willingness to exploit misinformation for political and military ends," it said.
Pakistan also urged the international community to take serious note of this "dangerous behaviour" and to counsel India towards restraint and responsibility.
Any escalation based on false pretenses will be met with full resolve and determination to safeguard Pakistan's sovereignty and territorial integrity, it said.
Pakistan remains vigilant and firmly committed to peace, but it will not be deterred by attempts to provoke, intimidate, or mislead and reserves the right to respond to acts of aggression, the statement said.
Tensions between India and Pakistan soared after terrorists killed 26 people, mostly, civilians, in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam.
In a powerful retaliation to the Pahalgam massacre, Indian armed forces early Wednesday carried out missile strikes on the terror targets, including Bahawalpur, a stronghold of the Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) terror group.
In Video:
Pakistan used Turkish drones, civilian planes as shields to test our air defense' | Col Qureshi
(Catch all the Business News, Breaking News, Budget 2025 Events and Latest News Updates on The Economic Times.)
Subscribe to The Economic Times Prime and read the ET ePaper online.
Read More News on
(Catch all the Business News, Breaking News, Budget 2025 Events and Latest News Updates on The Economic Times.)
Subscribe to The Economic Times Prime and read the ET ePaper online.
ETPrime Membership
