India Forced To Foray Into Lahore As Pak Attempts Military Targets

At the time of launch of ‘Operation Sindoor’ on May 7 to avenge Pahalgam attacks, 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. On the night of May7-8, 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 neutralized 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. On May 8 morning Indian Armed Forces (IAF) targeted Air Defence Radars and systems at a number of locations in Pakistan. It has been reliably learnt that an Air Defence system at Lahore has been neutralized. Pakistan has increased the intensity of its unprovoked firing across the Line of Control using mortars and heavy caliber artillery in Kupwara, Baramulla, Uri, Poonch, Mendhar and Rajouri sectors in J&K. As many as 16 lives have been lost due to Pakistani firing. Here too, India was compelled to respond to bring mortar and artillery fire from Pakistan to a halt. In a statement, IAF reiterated their commitment to non-escalation, provided it is respected by the Pakistani military. Meanwhile PM Modi chaired a high-level meeting with Secretaries of various Ministries and Departments of the Government of India to review national preparedness and inter-ministerial coordination in light of recent developments concerning national security. Ministries were advised to maintain close coordination with state authorities and ground-level institutions.