'Pak Drones, Missiles Attempted to Target Amritsar, Bhuj, 13 Other Places': Govt

The Govt confirmed that the Air Defence system at Lahore has been neutralised by the Indian Armed Forces today.

A civilian shows a damaged property after heavy firing and shelling by Pakistan military overnight across the Line of Control and International Border, in Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir. 

(Photo: PTI)

At least 16, including three women and five children, have been killed and 59 injured in cross-border shelling in Jammu and Kashmir after Pakistan continued firing along the Line of Control (LoC) in the aftermath of Operation Sindoor.

The operation was launched by the Indian Armed Forces in the early hours of Wednesday, 7 May in response to the Pahalgam terror attack, which killed 25 Indian citizens and one Nepali national.

Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, Colonel Sofia Qureshi and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh addressed a press conference of the Union Ministry of External Affairs on Thursday, 8 May.

During the press briefing, Col. Qureshi and Wing Commande Singh said, "On the night of 7-8 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."

However, these drones and missiles were neutralised by the Integrated Counter UAS Grid and Air Defence systems, the Defence Ministry stated earlier today. It added that the debris, "that prove the Pakistani attacks," is now being recovered from a number of locations.

The press statement also confirmed that the Air Defence system at Lahore has been neutralised by the Indian Armed Forces Thursday morning. Here is what we know so far:

'Pak Increases Unprovoked Firing Across LOC': Govt

According to the Defence Ministry's press statement, "Pakistan has increased the intensity of its unprovoked firing across the LOC using mortars and heavy-calibre artillery in the Kupwara, Baramulla, Uri, Poonch, Mendhar and Rajouri sectors in J&K."

On Thursday 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," the statement added.

Reiterating its response as "focused, measured and non-escalatory," the defence ministry specifically mentioned that Pakistani military establishments "had not been targeted."

While reaffirming the Armed Forces' commitment to non-escalation, the ministry asserted that "any attack on military targets in India will invite a suitable response."

'Pahalgam Attack First Escalation, India's Strike Was a Carefully Targeted Response': Foreign Secy

During the press briefing, Foreign Secretary Misri asserted that the terror attack in Pahalgam on 22 April was the first escalation and the strike on 7 May was India's response to that escalation. India's reaction was restraint and not targeted towards civilians, he said.

"The Indian response is non-escalatory. Our intention is not to escalate matters but to respond to the first escalation, as mentioned before. Our response on 7 May was considerate and targeted carefully-selected establishments of terrorist organisations," Misri said.

He added that it was Pakistan which opposed the mention of The Resistance Front (TRF), a known front of the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), in the United Nations Security Council Committee. It is also known as the ISIL (Da'esh) and Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee and is responsible for implementing sanctions against groups associated with ISIL and Al-Qaida.

"Pakistan is home to UN-proscribed terrorists such as Hafiz Saeed and Masoor Azhar among others. Pakistan's reputation as the centre of global terrorism is known not just to India but also to other countries. I don't need to remind the world where Osama Bin Laden was found and who labelled him a 'martyr'," Misri said, adding that Pakistan was trying to wash its hands off all terrorist activities.

On Pakistan's claims that civilians have been killed, Misri, while holding out a photograph, said, "If only civilians were killed in the attack, then I wonder what message does this image convey. It's only odd that funerals of civilians are carried out with coffins draped in Pakistani flags and state honours being accorded. As far as we are concerned, the individuals eliminated at these establishments were terrorists."

Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri during the press  briefing by the Union Ministry of External Affairs on Thursday, 8 May. 

(Image: Screenshot/ YouTube MEA)

Misri labelled claims of targeting Neelum-Jhelum dam in Pakistan a "blatant lie" and that if "Pakistan uses it as a pretext for attacking India, Islamabad will be solely responsible for the consequences."

"India has decided to keeping the Indus Water Treaty in abeyance till Pakistan takes responsibility of terror outfits operating on its soil," Misri stated.

'Operation Sindoor Carried Out with Unimaginable Precision': Defence Minister Rajnath Singh

While addressing the National Quality Conclave 2025 in New Delhi on Thursday, Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh once again congratulated the Indian Armed Forces for "destroying terror camps in Pakistan-Occupied-Kashmir (POK)" and carrying out Operation Sindoor with "unimaginable precision."

"It is highly commendable. Nine terrorist camps were destroyed and a substantial number of terrorists were killed. This operation has been conducted, keeping in mind the safety of civilians and to reduce the collateral damage," Singh said, adding that the precision strike was possible owing to the high-quality and formidable weapons possessed by the Indian Armed Forces.

Earlier today, after the all-party meeting, many Members of Parliament (MPs) and party leaders, including AAP' Sanjay Singh and Shiv Sena (UBT)'s Sanjay Raut, quoted Defence Minister Singh saying that "over 100 terrorists and their associates have been killed in Pakistan," ANI has reported.

On being asked about the number of terrorists killed, including Masood Azhar's 10 family members, Misri told the media that he could not provide concrete information on the same at this time.

More from The Quint's Coverage of Operation Sindoor

Govt Advises OTT Platforms Against Pak Content; Some Media Portals Withheld on X

'We Stand United': Political Parties Hail Operation Sindoor in All-Party Meet

Reliance & 3 Others Apply For 'Operation Sindoor' Trademark, RIL Later Withdraws

'Got No Warning to Evacuate': J&K Villagers Seek Refuge As Pak Continues Firing

WATCH: 'My 8-Yr-Old Asks If He'll Die': Families Along LoC Flee As Pak Firing Kills 15

'They Are Now At Peace': Kin of Pahalgam Attack Victims Hail Operation Sindoor