Key Points:
- For two consecutive nights, India penetrated Pakistan’s air defence, sending drones into major cities like Lahore and Rawalpindi.
- Pakistan’s HQ-9 air defence missile launchers, especially those deployed in Lahore, suffered heavy damage and were neutralized by Indian strikes.
- The Indian operation came after Pakistan’s failed attempt to target Indian radar systems using loitering munitions and a barrage of drones and missiles aimed at 15 Indian cities.
- India’s Integrated Counter UAS Grid and advanced air defence systems intercepted and destroyed all incoming Pakistani threats, with debris now being recovered in multiple locations.
- Cross-border tensions remain high, with both sides exchanging drone and missile attacks, and Pakistan intensifying shelling along the Line of Control, resulting in civilian casualties.
New Delhi: India has exposed significant vulnerabilities in Pakistan’s air defence network, successfully penetrating Pakistani airspace for two consecutive nights and neutralizing key missile defence assets. The latest operations, confirmed by the Ministry of Defence, come amid surging tensions following India’s Operation Sindoor and Pakistan’s failed retaliatory strikes.
Indian Drones Reach Lahore, Rawalpindi; HQ-9 Systems Destroyed
On the nights following Operation Sindoor, Indian security forces dispatched advanced drones deep into Pakistan’s heartland, including Lahore and Rawalpindi. These drone incursions followed Islamabad’s unsuccessful attempt to damage Indian radar systems using loitering munitions and a barrage of drones and missiles targeting 15 Indian cities such as Srinagar, Jammu, Pathankot, Amritsar, and Chandigarh.
India’s response was swift and precise. Not only were all Pakistani drones and missiles intercepted by India’s Integrated Counter UAS Grid and air defence systems, but Indian drones also targeted and heavily damaged Pakistan’s HQ-9 air defence missile launchers in Lahore, effectively neutralizing the city’s air defence shield.
Pakistan’s Retaliatory Attacks Foiled
Pakistan’s military attempted to hit multiple Indian military installations in the north and west, but every incoming threat was destroyed by Indian air defences. Debris from intercepted Pakistani drones and missiles has been recovered in several Indian locations, providing clear evidence of the thwarted attacks.
Meanwhile, Pakistan claims to have intercepted and shot down a number of Indian drones, reporting injuries to four soldiers and at least one civilian casualty in Sindh. Sirens and civil defence drills were conducted in Islamabad, reflecting the heightened state of alert.
Escalating Tensions Along the LoC
Cross-border hostilities have intensified, with Pakistan increasing mortar and heavy artillery fire along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir, resulting in civilian casualties on both sides. The Indian government has reiterated that its strikes were focused on terror infrastructure and not civilian or military targets, and has warned Pakistan against further escalation.
High-Level Security Review
Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and senior officials to review the evolving security situation. India remains on high alert, with security mock drills conducted in several states and airspace restrictions in effect across northern India.
India’s deep-penetration drone operations have exposed weaknesses in Pakistan’s air defence, neutralizing key HQ-9 missile systems in Lahore and thwarting retaliatory strikes on Indian cities. As both nations remain on high alert and cross-border hostilities escalate, the risk of further confrontation remains acute.
