India foils Pakistan's missiles, drone attacks; Navy ops begin: What happened overnight

First Post

09-05-2025

It's been an action-packed night. Following the success of India's Operation Sindoor, Pakistan escalated tensions with India on the night of May 8. It fired multiple missiles and launched over 50 drones towards Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab and Rajasthan. However, India's military thwarted all of the neighbouring nation's attempts and launched its own counter-fire towards Islamabad, Karachi, Sialkot and Lahore, even shooting down one of its AWACs read more
It's been a night of terror. A night of firing. A night of uncertainty. On the night of May 8, Pakistan stepped up hostilities when it chose to strike multiple states in India, including Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Rajasthan and Gujarat — using drones, missiles and intense artillery shelling.
However, India thwarted these attacks, and, in turn, launched its own retaliatory fire, targeting Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Khenju (Sind), Attock, Miano, Bahawalpur and an area near Karachi.
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The escalating actions also prompted US Secretary of State Marco Rubio to hold talks with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Pakistani Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and emphasised the need for de-escalation in the growing crisis between the two countries.
For those who were asleep last night and missed the action, here's a recap of all that happened.
1) A day after India conducted Operation Sindoor, Pakistan escalated the situation by targeting civilian and military areas in India with a swarm of drones, missiles and intense artillery shelling. On Thursday night, Pakistan targeted areas in Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab and Rajasthan with drones.
2) Government sources said that at least eight missiles from Pakistan were directed at Jammu and Kashmir's Satwari, Samba, RS Pura and Arnia and all were intercepted by air defence units. The IAF activated its Integrated Counter UAS (Unmanned Aerial Systems) Grid and other air defence systems, including the S400 Triumf, Barak 8 MRSAM (medium range surface-to-air missile) and the indigenous Akash, helping set up an air defence umbrella that helped thwart the attacks.
3) 'Military stations at Jammu and Pathankot and Udhampur were targeted by Pakistani-origin drones and missiles along the International Border in J and K today. The threats were swiftly neutralised using kinetic and non-kinetic capabilities…,' according to a late night Ministry of Defence statement.
A resident inspects his house damaged by Pakistani artillery shelling in Poonch, along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir. AP
4) Some reports say Pakistan tried to target Jammu airport. However, there is no confirmation on this yet.
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5) The barrage of missiles and drones from Pakistan led to a blackout in Jammu and Kashmir. Moreover, air raid sirens wailed with an order being passed to keep schools and colleges shut in the area.
6) India also thwarted Pakistan's attacks on Punjab and Rajasthan. Late at night, there were reports of a loud noise heard in Pathankot which some feared could be shelling from Pakistan but there was no confirmation.
7) In Rajasthan, the border districts of Jaisalmer and Bikaner reported seeing what appeared to be drones or missiles in the sky, which were again intercepted by air defence systems. Pakistani drones started entering Indian airspace in Rajasthan around 9 pm. 'These were drone attacks which were successfully intercepted,' a BSF officer said, adding that no loss of life or damage was reported.
8) There are reports that India shot down an F-16 supersonic fighter jet of the Pakistan Air Force. Sources have also said that India has shot down two JF-17 fighter jets. However, there is no confirmation on this matter.
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A blackout is seen after residents of the city of Jammu reported hearing explosions and sirens in Srinagar. AP
9) The situation also led officials to call off the IPL 2025 match between Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals in Dharamsala.
The Indian Army in a small statement on X confirmed Pakistan's actions. In a post, it said, 'Pakistan Armed Forces launched multiple attacks using drones and other munitions along entire Western Border on the intervening night of 08 and 09 May 2025. Pak troops also resorted to numerous cease fire violations (CFVs) along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir. The drone attacks were effectively repulsed and befitting reply was given to the CFVs.'
11) Following Pakistan's actions, India activated its air defence system, destroying a Pakistan Air Force's Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS), according to sources. The airborne early warning systems are costly military equipment. There are reports that India struck Pakistan's capital Islamabad as well as Lahore and Sialkot late on Thursday.
12) Following Pakistan's actions, sources said the Indian Navy started a retaliatory operation. They began operations in the Arabian Sea, targeting multiple targets in Pakistan.
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Targeted operations, they said in the early hours of Friday, have begun in the Arabian Sea against multiple targets in Pakistan.
Debris of a scooter damaged by a cross-border shelling lies on a road in Poonch near the Line of Control. Reuters
13) Reacting to the situation, US Secretary of State held phone calls with India's External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar as well as Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. While the American side emphasised the need for de-escalation, it is learnt that Jaishankar told the US official that India will respond in a 'measured' manner to all terrorist attacks targeting its territory and citizens, but will not take kindly to any attempt by Pakistan to escalate military tension.
'Underlined India's targeted and measured response to cross-border terrorism. Will firmly counter any attempts at escalation,' Jaishankar posted on X after the call.
14) US Vice President JD Vance also speaking on the issue, said that the US will not intervene in the conflict between Pakistan and India, calling fighting between the two nuclear powers 'fundamentally none of our business'. 'What we can do is try to encourage these folks to de-escalate a little bit, but we're not going to get involved in the middle of war that's fundamentally none of our business and has nothing to do with America's ability to control it,' Vance said during an interview. As the US could force neither side to lay down their arms, he continued, the country would 'continue to pursue this thing through diplomatic channels'.
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With inputs from agencies