Govt to Send Delegations for Diplomatic Outreach to Expose Pakistan on Terrorism

PTI, NEW DELHI, MAY 16, 2025 :  Pakistan unleashed a swarm of Turkish drones to target Indian military facilities, probe air defence systems, and gather intelligence last night, while keeping its civil airspace open during the assault, endangering civilian flights, officials said on Friday as the conflict between the two militaries spiralled.

Most drones were downed using kinetic and non-kinetic means, said Col. Sofiya Qureshi of the Army and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh of the Air Force.

The two military officials said Pakistan used its civil airliners as a "shield" as it did not close its civil airspace during its attempts to attack Indian installations with drones and missiles on May 7, knowing fully well that the strikes would elicit a swift response from India.

"On the night of May 8–9, Pakistan carried out large-scale violations of Indian airspace, attempting to target military infrastructure with 300–400 drones across 36 locations from Leh to Sir Creek," said Singh. "Indian forces neutralised many drones using kinetic and non-kinetic means. An armed UAV strike on Bhatinda was also thwarted," she said.

India responded by launching drone strikes on four Pakistani air defence sites, destroying a radar, the Wing Commander added. Singh said the "possible" purpose of the large-scale Pakistani intrusions was to test the air defence systems and gather intelligence.

"Forensic examination of the drone debris is being undertaken. Preliminary reports suggest them to be Asisguard Songar drones of Turkey," she said.

"Pakistan escalated with artillery and drone attacks across the Line of Control, causing casualties. Alarmingly, Pakistan kept its civil airspace open during the assault, endangering civilian flights," she said.

In response to the Pakistani attack, the Indian military launched armed drones at four air defence sites in Pakistan. "One of the drones was able to destroy an air defence radar," Singh said.

The Wing Commander said Pakistan also carried out artillery shelling across the Line of Control using heavy calibre artillery guns and armed drones at Kandhan, Uri, Poonch, Mendar, Rajouri, Akhnoor, and Udhampur in the Jammu and Kashmir area, which resulted in some losses and injuries to Indian Army personnel.

"Pakistan Army also suffered major losses in Indian retaliatory firing."

Additionally, Pakistan's irresponsible behaviour again came to the fore as it did not close its civil airspace despite launching a failed unprovoked drone and missile attack on May 7," said Qureshi.

"Pakistan is using civil airliners as a shield, knowing fully well that its attack on India would elicit a swift air defence response. This is not safe for the unsuspecting civil airliners, including international flights that were flying near the international border between India and Pakistan," she said.

The official also showed screenshots of flight movement on the website Flightradar24.