India has accused Pakistani forces of launching attacks involving around 400 drones targeting various locations, including cities, military bases, and places of worship, on Thursday night. Indian officials stated that they intercepted numerous drones coming from Pakistani territory, asserting that they encountered these drones in regions like Jammu and Kashmir, Rajasthan, Punjab, and Gujarat. The first wave appeared on Thursday evening, followed by another early Friday morning.
In response, India claimed to have executed four drone strikes targeting military defense infrastructure within Pakistan.
During a press briefing, Indian military officials asserted that the drone attacks in Pakistan struck a Sikh gurdwara, injuring civilians, and also targeted a Christian church. Vikram Mithri, India’s Foreign Secretary, expressed that targeting sacred sites was a new low for Pakistan.
Contrarily, Pakistani Information Minister Attaura Talar refuted the claims of a drone attack, labeling India’s military statements as “basically misleading.” He emphasized that Pakistan does not condone aggressive actions stemming from India or across borders.
Pakistani security officials suggested otherwise, telling the Guardian that the drone strike was a significant escalation before a possibly more comprehensive retaliatory action. “Everyone will know when we fight back,” they commented.
Mithri dismissed Pakistan’s denial as “sexual” and indicative of its habitual disingenuousness.
This situation marks a surprising escalation in the ongoing conflict between India and Pakistan, both nuclear-armed nations, especially as India conducted missile attacks on nine Pakistani sites the previous Wednesday. Pakistan termed this an “act of war,” promising retaliation.
“We won’t escalate. They should face the consequences of the damage they’ve inflicted on us,” stated Pakistani military spokesman Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry. “We’ve been defending ourselves so far, but we will respond at a time of our choosing.”
Details from Pakistani forces about Wednesday’s strikes indicated that they deployed over 100 aircraft to counter Indian airstrikes, with both nations reporting a lengthy aerial dogfight.
Pakistan alleged the use of Chinese-made weapons and ground air defenses to repel five Indian fighter jets. However, India has yet to confirm reports of a downed plane, though fragments from at least one elite French Rafale jet have reportedly been located in areas under Indian control.
The most severely affected area by the Thursday drone attacks was near Jammu City in Kashmir, a region with a tense military presence and ongoing conflict between India and Pakistan.
Residents described their experiences, noting they had never witnessed such a severe aerial assault before. Sirens wailed as a barrage of projectiles lit up the night sky, casting the city into darkness.
A video circulating showed flashes in the night sky above Jammu, before they vanished. Local authorities confirmed that debris from projectiles was found in various densely populated neighborhoods, though no injuries were reported.
Ajay Rahotra, a 24-year-old college student living near the border, remarked, “We’re used to skirmishes, but what unfolded the other night was extraordinary. It was terrifying.” He added that after a lull around midnight, activity resumed around 4 AM, causing sleeplessness for many.
Amid ongoing hostilities, both nations remain on high alert, particularly in northern India and Kashmir. The surge in accusations has also fueled a rise in misinformation from both sides.
India has condemned what it describes as Pakistan’s rampant disinformation and exaggerated claims in the media.
“What should have been a vital moment for international action against terrorism was twisted into a propaganda war instead,” noted India’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.
Unfortunately, Indian media has also been inundated with misleading reports about attacks on various sites in Pakistan and fabricated stories about military coups or the capture of Pakistani officials. Images of unrelated military operations are being misrepresented in the context of these claims.
In an attempt to counter misinformation, India has reportedly instructed the social media platform X to block over 8,000 accounts, including those belonging to Pakistani personalities and independent media in India. X confirmed this action but noted that the Indian government did not always provide adequate legal justifications for these blocks.
Despite this, X indicated that adhering to the Indian government’s requests was necessary to avoid severe penalties, including hefty fines or potential imprisonment for local employees.
