The Indian Armed Forces successfully thwarted a large-scale drone and missile assault attempted by the Pakistan military on multiple Indian military installations across Northern and Western India during the night of May 7–8. In retaliation, India neutralised a major Pakistani Air Defence system located in Lahore.
During a press briefing at the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Thursday, Colonel Sofiya Qureshi stated that India’s Integrated Counter-UAS Grid and Air Defence systems had effectively neutralised the threats.
She added that the Indian Armed Forces responded to the Pakistani offensive with precision targeting of multiple air defence radars and systems inside Pakistan.
“This morning, the Indian Armed Forces targeted Air Defence Radars and systems at a number of locations in Pakistan. Indian response has been in the same domain with same intensity as Pakistan. It has been reliably learnt that an Air Defence system at Lahore has been neutralised,” she said.
Referring to the earlier briefing on Operation Sindoor, Colonel Qureshi noted:
“During the press briefing on Operation Sindoor on 07 May 2025, India had called its response as focused, measured and non-escalatory. It was specifically mentioned that Pakistani military establishments had not been targeted. It was also reiterated that any attack on military targets in India will invite a suitable response.”
She further detailed the scope of the Pakistani attempt:
“On the night of 07-08 May 2025, Pakistan attempted to engage a number of military targets in Northern and Western India including Awantipura, Srinagar, Jammu, Pathankot, Amritsar, Kapurthala, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Adampur, Bhatinda, Chandigarh, Nal, Phalodi, Uttarlai, and Bhuj, using drones and missiles. These were neutralised by the Integrated Counter UAS Grid and Air Defence systems. The debris of these attacks is now being recovered from a number of locations that prove the Pakistani attacks,” Colonel Qureshi said.
These developments come in the wake of the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which claimed the lives of 26 people. In retaliation, India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7, conducting precision strikes on nine terror camps located in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK).
The Ministry of Defence had earlier commented:
“Our actions have been focused, measured and non-escalatory in nature. No Pakistani military facilities have been targeted. India has demonstrated considerable restraint in selection of targets and method of execution.”
In the aftermath of Operation Sindoor, the Union Government convened an all-party meeting on Thursday at the Parliament Annexe to brief key political leaders on the situation and India’s calibrated response to cross-border terrorism.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh led the briefing, accompanied by Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, Colonel Sofiya Qureshi, and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh. Prominent political figures such as Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Union Minister JP Nadda, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, and Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi participated in the meeting.
The Centre reaffirmed its resolve to act decisively against terrorism while maintaining strategic restraint, aiming to deter further escalation.