India retaliation underway as Pakistan escalates attacks

India is responding to the recent series of drone and missile strikes by Pakistan on Friday night, government sources reported. This occurs while Pakistan persists in targeting various sites in India, especially in Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab. The union government plans to conduct an in-depth briefing on Pakistan’s attack and India’s response at 10:30 am.

“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.

The Indian Army, via a statement on X, said: “Pakistan’s blatant escalation with drone strikes and other munitions continues along our western borders. In one such incident, today at approximately 5 AM, Multiple enemy armed drones were spotted flying over Khasa Cantt, Amritsar. The hostile drones were instantly engaged and destroyed by our air defence units.”

Early Saturday morning, Pakistan stated that India had launched missiles at three air bases, including one near the capital, Islamabad, but their air defenses intercepted the majority.

Officials stated that attempts by Pakistan to strike the Air Force Station in Jammu were successfully thwarted. Residents reported hearing explosions at irregular intervals throughout the city until early morning. Meanwhile, heavy artillery shelling hit Rajouri city, specifically targeting the main town.

Several explosions also shook Pathankot as daylight emerged over the city. The sporadic blasts occurred for a minimum of thirty minutes, accompanied by anti-aircraft artillery firing in response. Although there is no official statement regarding which military sites in the area were hit, the district authorities have announced a state of heightened alert.

The streets were entirely empty, and locals were recommended to remain inside and refrain from going outside until an all-clear signal was given. Explosions were reported in Srinagar, including close to the airport, at 5:20 am, in Baramulla at about 4:50 am, and also in Udhampur.

The early morning intensification occurred shortly after Pakistan, for the second night in a row, deployed numerous drones aimed at military sites across various cities near India’s northern and western frontiers. Although several drones were intercepted and downed by air defense systems utilized by the Indian military, an armed drone crashed in a civilian neighborhood in Ferozepur, Punjab, injuring individuals in 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.