Jammu (Jammu and Kashmir): The Border Security Force (BSF) on Tuesday confirmed that it carried out targeted strikes on terror launch pads near the Line of Control (LoC) in response to heavy cross-border shelling from Pakistan earlier this month. The BSF asserted that India’s retaliation was “loud and effective.”
Speaking at a press conference, BSF Inspector General Shashank Anand of the Jammu Frontier detailed the sequence of events and underlined that India was fully prepared for such provocations.
“As a result of this preparedness, we inflicted heavy damage on several Pakistani posts during the cross-border firing. We did not suffer any losses ourselves,” Anand said.
He further explained that Pakistan initiated unprovoked firing on Indian positions, which led to India’s forceful counteraction.
“On the night of May 8, when we carried out this operation, the enemy’s morale in that area was visibly shaken. The next day, i.e., on May 9, Pakistan began unprovoked cross-border firing along the international border in the northern areas of Jammu, moving away from the Samba region. The BSF was already prepared for such a situation, and on May 9 and 10, the BSF launched heavy shelling on Pakistan’s border belt. During this period, we had planned that if the opportunity arose, we would also strike the terrorist launch pads located near the international border,” he added.
He confirmed that a targeted strike was executed on a Lashkar-e-Taiba launch pad near the LoC in Pakistan.
“As part of this operation, on the night of May 9 and 10, the BSF carried out a deliberate and planned attack on a Lashkar-e-Taiba launchpad in ‘Looni’, which is located in Pakistan just 3 kilometers from the international border,” Anand said.
Further details were provided by Virender Dutta, DIG of the Sundarbani Sector, who said intelligence inputs had warned of militant activity in the area.
“After May 8, we received intelligence that 18-20 militants were present in Looni, and it was expected that they would attempt to infiltrate by taking advantage of the cross-border firing. Their intention was likely to target our installations later. We executed a highly coordinated and well-planned operation in two phases to inflict maximum casualties. We achieved that goal, and Looni was completely destroyed,” Dutta stated.
These developments followed the launch of Operation Sindoor, India’s decisive military response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack. Initiated on May 7, Operation Sindoor led to the elimination of over 100 terrorists affiliated with groups such as Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Taiba, and Hizbul Mujahideen.
Following the initial Indian strikes, Pakistan retaliated with cross-border shelling and attempted drone attacks along the Jammu and Kashmir border. In response, India launched a coordinated counterattack, damaging radar systems, communication hubs, and airfields across 11 Pakistani airbases.
An understanding to cease hostilities between India and Pakistan was announced on May 10, bringing temporary de-escalation to the tense border situation.