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| MEA press briefing after India intercepts Pakistan's drone and air attacks |
New Dehli - In a significant escalation of cross-border hostilities, Pakistan launched coordinated attacks targeting multiple locations across India, including military installations and medical facilities, according to Indian government officials speaking at an urgent press briefing Saturday.
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri characterized Pakistan's recent actions as "provocative and escalatory" during the Ministry of External Affairs press conference in New Delhi. Colonel Sofiya Qureshi provided further details, confirming that Pakistani forces attempted to strike an air base in Punjab Friday night, part of a broader offensive targeting 26 separate locations within Indian territory.
"Intelligence reports indicate Pakistan's military is actively relocating troops to forward positions along the border," Colonel Qureshi stated, highlighting concerns about further military buildup. She also revealed that Pakistani forces had targeted medical facilities in Srinagar, Avantipura, and Udhampur, raising additional concerns about the nature of the attacks.
The situation intensified Saturday morning when Pakistan Air Force jets conducted a raid on Srinagar, prompting immediate retaliation from Indian armed forces, who reportedly responded "effectively." This aerial engagement followed multiple drone attacks launched by Pakistan across Indian border districts throughout Friday night and early Saturday morning, with India's air defense systems successfully intercepting several incoming threats.
Residents across multiple border regions reported explosions Friday evening, with incidents confirmed in Srinagar's airport area, Samba, Jammu city, and Baramulla in Jammu and Kashmir. Similar reports emerged from Pathankot and Ferozepur in Punjab, and Barmer in Rajasthan, as authorities implemented precautionary blackouts across affected border areas.
The violence has already claimed civilian casualties. Raj Kumar Thappa, Additional District Commissioner of Rajouri, died along with two other civilians following heavy Pakistani shelling that struck the DC colony in the Kashmir district. Thappa was initially injured when artillery shells hit his residence during overnight bombardment but succumbed to his injuries hours later. Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah expressed condolences Saturday morning, as images from the scene showed Thappa's home completely destroyed by the attack.
The rapidly developing situation represents one of the most serious escalations between the nuclear-armed neighbors in recent years, with international observers closely monitoring events as both nations maintain substantial military forces along their disputed border.
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