India has confirmed that it successfully neutralised a coordinated Pakistani missile and drone attack during the night of May 7–8, 2025, as hostilities continued to escalate in the aftermath of Operation Sindoor. According to the Ministry of Defence, Pakistan had attempted to strike a range of military installations across Northern and Western India, targeting critical locations such as Awantipura, Srinagar, Jammu, Pathankot, Amritsar, Chandigarh, and Bhuj, among others.
India’s Integrated Counter-UAS Grid and Air Defence systems intercepted and neutralised the incoming threats. Debris from Pakistani drones and missiles is now being recovered from multiple areas, further substantiating Islamabad's offensive actions.
In response, India struck back by targeting Pakistani Air Defence Radars and systems, particularly noting the neutralisation of a key Air Defence system in Lahore. The retaliatory action was described by Indian officials as measured and reciprocal, matching Pakistan’s escalation but avoiding disproportionate or escalatory strikes.
This exchange follows 12 continuous days of unprovoked shelling by Pakistan along the Line of Control (Loc), especially in sectors including Kupwara, Baramulla, Uri, Poonch, Mendhar, and Rajouri. Tragically, 16 civilians, including three women and five children, have been killed in the shelling. India said it was “compelled to respond” in order to silence Pakistan’s mortar and heavy artillery fire.
During the May 7 press briefing, India reaffirmed that Operation Sindoor deliberately avoided hitting Pakistan’s military bases, underlining its intent to keep the response limited to terror infrastructure. However, the targeting of Indian military bases by Pakistan has now crossed that threshold, triggering India’s expanded but domain-specific countermeasures.
India has reiterated its commitment to non-escalation, while warning that any further attacks on Indian military targets would receive equivalent retaliation.
