Pak moving troops into forward areas, Indian forces on alert: Government
The government said that Pakistan was moving its troops to forward areas along the border - a first such build-up since the 1999 Kargil War - but the Indian forces were prepared and alert. Addressing a press briefing on Saturday after Pakistan targeted 26 military locations and civilian infrastructure across four states, the government said India carried out precision strikes at six Pakistani airbases.advertisementWing Commander Vyomika Singh and Colonel Sofiya Qureshi, who have been the government's face in relaying information on the conflict, said Pakistan's decision to mobilise troops indicates an offensive intent. "The Pakistani military has been observed to be moving their troops to border areas, indicating offensive intent to further escalate the situation. However, the Indian armed forces remain in a high state of operational readiness and all hostile actions have been effectively countered and responded to appropriately," Qureshi said.FOLLOW LIVE UPDATES
In the early hours of Saturday, Pakistan launched 'Operation Bunyan Ul Marsoos', targeting military locations and civilian infrastructure in Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Rajasthan and Gujarat with drones and missiles. The operation's name, drawn from a Quranic verse, means 'unbreakable wall'.The government said Pakistan used drones, long-range weapons, loitering munitions and fighter jets to attack the military sites. Damages were reported at air force bases in Udhampur, Bhuj, Pathankot, Bathinda.advertisementThe government also said that a "high-speed missile" was used to attack an air base in Punjab. Earlier, reports said that India had successfully intercepted a Pakistani Fateh-2 surface-to-surface air missile in Sirsa.Pakistan also targeted hospitals and school premises at air bases at Srinagar, Awantipur and Udhampur - an act the government called condemnable and deplorable. "This once again revealed their irresponsible tendency of attacking civil infrastructure," Colonel Sofiya Qureshi said.6 AIRBASES IN PAKISTAN ATTACKEDIn response, the Indian armed forces targeted technical installations, command and control centres, radar sites and arms stores in Pakistan while ensuring minimum collateral damage and losses."Pakistan military bases at Rafiqui, Murid, Chaklala, Rahim Yar Khan, Sukkur and Chunian were targeted through precision ammunition and fighter jets. Radar sites in Pasrur and an aviation base in Sialkot were also targeted," the government said.The government once again reiterated its commitment to non-escalation provided it is reciprocated by the Pakistani military.Pakistan's belligerent moves come in the wake of India's Operation Sindoor, where the armed forces destroyed nine terror camps across the border on Wednesday. The operation was a response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that left 26 people dead.Tune InMust Watch
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