Amid rising hostilities along the India-Pakistan border, the Indian Army successfully intercepted and neutralised a Pakistani loitering munition in the Kutch sector of Gujarat on Saturday. This development underscores India’s robust aerial surveillance and defence capabilities during the ongoing military confrontation with Pakistan.
According to defence officials, Indian forces employed L-70 anti-aircraft guns to bring down the enemy unmanned aerial vehicle, further highlighting the armed forces’ state of high alert.
Khasa Drone Attack Thwarted in Punjab
Earlier the same day, multiple enemy armed drones were spotted over Khasa Cantonment in Punjab’s Amritsar around 5 AM. The Indian Army’s air defence units acted swiftly, destroying the hostile drones before they could pose a threat.
The operation falls under the larger military campaign Operation Sindoor, which was launched early Wednesday in response to Pakistan’s drone strikes and cross-border shelling.
“Pakistan’s blatant attempt to violate India’s sovereignty and endanger civilians is unacceptable. The Indian Army will thwart enemy designs,” stated the Additional Directorate General of Public Information (ADG PI) on X.
Operation Sindoor: A Multi-Theatre Response
Under Operation Sindoor, Indian armed forces have neutralised nine terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) over the past few days. According to sources, four major Pakistani airbases were hit in Indian retaliatory strikes conducted early Saturday morning.
This counteroffensive was in direct response to Pakistan’s coordinated attack on 26 Indian locations, which included the use of drones, loitering munitions, and shelling of civilian zones.
Cross-Border Shelling and Civilian Impact
The Rajouri district in Jammu witnessed heavy shelling, with the residence of J&K Administrative Services officer Raj Kumar Thappa being directly hit, tragically leading to his death. Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah expressed deep sorrow over the incident, calling it a devastating loss to the administration and the state.
Briefing Scheduled on Operation Sindoor
In light of the escalating situation, the Ministry of External Affairs and Ministry of Defence will jointly brief the nation and the press at 10:30 AM on Saturday. The briefing is expected to provide official details on Operation Sindoor’s objectives, progress, and future actions.
Public Advisory and Military Vigilance
The Ministry of Defence reiterated that 26 drone sightings were reported across sensitive border areas including Baramulla, Avantipora, Jammu, Pathankot, Barmer, and Bhuj. One armed drone even targeted a civilian locality in Ferozpur, causing injuries.
Security forces are tracking and neutralising all aerial threats using advanced counter-drone systems, while urging civilians in vulnerable areas to:
- Stay indoors
- Follow local authority guidelines
- Avoid non-essential movement