The latest government briefing paints a stark picture of intensifying hostilities between India and Pakistan, marked by Pakistan’s broad-spectrum overnight assault and India’s calibrated military response.
Key Developments:
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Damage to Indian Airbases:Pakistan launched attacks on four major IAF stations — Udhampur, Pathankot, Adampur, and Bhuj — causing limited damage. Civilian sites near Srinagar, Awantipora, and Udhampur were also targeted, including medical centers and schools, drawing sharp condemnation from India.
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India’s Precision Response:The Indian Armed Forces conducted precision strikes on six Pakistani airbases — Rafiqui, Murid, Chaklala, Rahim Yar Khan, Sukkur, and Chunia — along with radar and aviation installations in Pasrur and Sialkot. These were limited to military infrastructure, in line with India’s stated objective of minimizing collateral damage.
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Pakistan’s Offensive Actions:According to Colonel Sofiya Qureshi, Pakistan fired a high-speed missile at an airbase in Punjab around 1:40 a.m., and targeted 26 strategic Indian sites using drones, fighter aircraft, and long-range artillery. Indian troops reportedly faced sustained shelling along the LoC, including in Kupwara, Baramulla, Poonch, Rajouri, and Akhnoor.
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India Counters Misinformation:Wing Commander Vyomika Singh directly refuted Pakistani claims of destroying India’s S-400 air defense system and other critical sites, including Sirsa, Suratgarh, and Nagrota. Time-stamped images of undamaged bases were made public to disprove these allegations.
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Diplomatic Standpoint:Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri called Pakistan’s behavior “provocative and escalatory”, especially the shelling in Rajouri that killed ADDC Raj Kumar Thapa. He accused Pakistan of peddling lies and propaganda, while stressing that India’s military actions have been measured and responsible.
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India’s Position on De-escalation:Despite Pakistan's troop movement toward forward areas and persistent violations of Indian airspace, New Delhi reaffirmed that it seeks de-escalation, contingent on Pakistani cooperation. “We will not tolerate further hostile actions,” said Colonel Qureshi, underlining India’s firm but restrained posture.
