Pakistan escalates, India retaliates
Pakistan on Thursday escalated the tense situation by targeting civilian and military areas with a swarm of drones, missiles and intense artillery shelling. While India on May 7 targeted terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (POK) as part of Operation Sindoor, it specified that no Pakistani military infrastructure was targeted. India not only intercepted the drones and missiles, but also took down Pakistani fighter jets and an Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS).advertisementOn Thursday night, Pakistan targeted areas in Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab and Rajasthan with drones.India activated its air defence system and shot down the swarm of drones and eight missiles that were directed at vital installations.
The Jammu Civil Airport came under drone attack and multiple explosions have been heard in Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri district. There has been a massive blast on the Jammu-Srinagar Highway.Click here for Operation Sindoor live updatesSuch was the intensity of the drone attack that the visuals of the attack on Jammu reminded of a Hamas-style attack on Israel, defence sources told India Today TV.All schools have been ordered shut in Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab.US State Secretary Marco Rubio spoke to Indian Foreign Minister S Jaishankar about the ongoing tensions between India and Pakistan. Jaishankar made it clear to him that India would firmly counter any attempts at escalation.advertisementNot just the drone and missile strikes, Pakistan has continued intense shelling into civilian areas along the Line of Control (LoC) and the International Border (IB).Fifteen Indian civilians were killed in Pakistan's shelling along the LoC for 14 consecutive days, officials said. An Indian Army soldier also lost his life in the firing on Thursday.Experts saw this as a major escalation by Pakistan because India specified that it had avoided military installations and its precision strikes avoided any collateral damage to civilians.Despite a war-like situation, experts cautioned that one shouldn't rush to call the situation a "war", while staying prepared to retaliate against Pakistan.India struck terror bases after the April 22 Pahalgam attack in which 26 people were killed by Pakistani and Pakistan-trained terrorists.INDIA RETALIATES WITH COSTS ON PAKISTAN, BRINGS DOWN JETS, HITS LAHOREIndia activated its air defence system and shot down the drones and missiles fired by Pakistan on Thursday evening. India has knocked down three Pakistani fighter jets, including an F-16 and two JF-17 fighter jet.The Pakistani drone and missile attack came for a second consecutive night on Thursday after India foiled Pakistan's bid to target 15 military sites on the intervening night of May 7 and 8.advertisementThe Pakistani drones and missiles were quickly engaged and neutralised by India's Integrated Counter UAS Grid and Air Defence systems.Pakistan's escalation of the situation, especially on Thursday night, hasn't gone unpunished, as India imposed heavy costs on it.Not just three fighter jets, India also destroyed a Pakistan Air Force's Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS), according to sources. The airborne early warning systems are costly military equipment.Lahore has been left defenceless after India knocked down its China-made aerial defence system in its counterattack on the intervening night of May 7 and 8. After the missile shield was down, Lahore was left exposed to aerial strikes.While Pakistan has escalated the situation, India has responded not just by bringing down its drones and missiles, but by counterattacks, punishing and imposing costs on it.Tune InMust Watch
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