India has acknowledged that there have been 400 drone strikes by Pakistan in 36 locations.

 

Pakistan violated Indian airspace by using around 300-400 drones across the Line of Control (LoC) at 36 locations on the intervening night of May 8 and 9, India alleged on Friday.

This was reported by The Wire in a report on Friday (May 9).

The report said that these drones were used to target military installations and use civilian aircraft as shields.

Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, Army Colonel Sophia Qureshi and Air Force Wing Commander Bhumika Singh said in a joint press conference that the possible purpose of this drone intrusion by Pakistan was to test India's air defense system. Initial examination of the wreckage of the drones captured by India has shown that they are Turkish Asisgard Sangar drones.

Earlier on Thursday (May 7) night, India carried out 'Operation Siddhar' and carried out military strikes on nine targets in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

Wing Commander Bhumika Singh said that Pakistan Army violated Indian airspace along the western border on the intervening night of May 8 and 9 with the intention of attacking military installations. 300 to 400 drones were sent to 36 locations along the LoC and the international border from Leh to Sir Creek. The Indian Army shot down these drones using kinetic and non-kinetic methods. It is believed that these intrusions were carried out with the aim of testing air defence systems and gathering intelligence.

He also said that a Pakistani armed UAV attempted to target the Indian Bathinda military base, which was successfully repelled. In response, Indian armed drones attacked four Pakistani air defence bases and one of them managed to destroy a Pakistani air defence radar.

Bhumika said that the Pakistan Army resorted to heavy-caliber artillery shelling along the LoC and used armed drones in Tangdhar, Uri, Poonch, Mendhar, Rajouri, Akhnoor and Udhampur, resulting in some casualties and injuries to Indian troops. The Pakistan Army suffered heavy losses in the retaliatory attacks.

She also said that instead of stopping their civil aviation, Pakistan used them as a 'shield'.

At a press conference, Bhumika said that Pakistan had launched a failed drone and missile attack on India at 8:30 pm on May 7. But they did not stop their civil aviation. Rather, civil aircraft were operating on the Karachi-Lahore air route, which has once again brought Pakistan's irresponsible behavior to the fore. They know that India will respond swiftly to this attack.

India has said that 28 airports in the country have been temporarily closed due to the tension.

Meanwhile, a woman was killed and another injured in heavy shelling and drone-missile attacks on several military installations and civilian areas along the LoC and the international border in Jammu and Kashmir. A blackout was imposed from 10 pm on Thursday. The common people spent the night in terror due to the sound of shelling, air defense system response and sirens in Jammu city and various villages along the border.