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Islamabad provokes with attempted strikes on 15 military targets in Punjab, Rajasthan, Gujarat, J&K

India thwarted Pakistan’s attempts to hit various locations along western border, including Jammu, Pathankot and Udhampur, with drones and missiles on Thursday night. This came hours after India neutralised an air defence system in Lahore in retaliation to Pakistan’s unsuccessful attacks on 15 military locations across Punjab, Rajasthan, Gujarat and Jammu and Kashmir.

Also, a Pakistan air force pilot was captured by Indian security forces after he ejected from his jet over Jaisalmer.

Eight missiles fired at Satwari, Samba, RS Pura and Arnia in the Jammu region were intercepted ay air defence units, defence sources said, even as a complete blackout was enforced in Jammu.

“Military stations of Jammu, Pathankot and Udhampur in close proximity of the International Border in Jammu and Kashmir were targeted by Pakistan using missiles and drones. No losses. Threat neutralised by Indian armed forces as per standard operating procedures with kinetic and non-kinetic means,” the Ministry of Defence said.

There have also been reports of drones being used to attack Jammu, one of which is said to have hit the local airport. The airport, like several others in western India, had been shut since yesterday till further orders, said officials.

Sources said the scene over Jammu was reminiscent of Hamas-style attacks on Israel and the assessment was that the Pakistani establishment was using multiple cheap rockets to carry out attacks. Two other drones were shot down near the Jammu University.

The Army has confirmed drone attacks at several places along the western borders, including Punjab and Rajasthan, and these were being engaged effectively by the armed forces. Sources also claimed that last month operatives of Pakistan’s Inter-Service Intelligence (ISI) and Hamas, a militant organisation based in West Asia, had met in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

The residents of Jammu reported hearing the sounds of multiple explosions, specifically near the Jammu airport and Sunjuwan camp. It was around 8.15 pm when the first wave of drones and missiles were detected, creating panic among residents.

Eyewitnesses said that red streaks were seen at many points in the sky. The power supply was snapped to the entire region and sirens were activated.

Multiple drone attacks rocked Jalandhar city a little after 8 pm. As per reports, the UAVs were targeted at Army’s ammunition dumps at Suranussi and near the Mand police post. Sources said all UAVs were neutralised by activating the air defence system. Three loud explosions were heard. Just as the explosions at Mand ended, attacks resumed at Suranussi again around 10 pm. Attacks at both the sites were confirmed by senior police officials.

In Pathankot, there were reports of a drone attack on the airbase, which is less than 25 km from the International Border, and another at the Shahpur Kandi dam, about 4 km from the city. So far, there are no reports of any damage from the drone attacks.

Local Army and police officials were tightlipped about the impact of the attacks. A blackout was enforced in Punjab’s Pathankot and Amritsar districts.

Earlier in the day, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) said attempts by Pakistan to attack 15 sites were neutralised mid-air by the ‘Integrated Grid’, which comprises counter-UAV and S-400 air defence systems. The attempts by Pakistan came after the Indian armed forces early Wednesday carried out precise missile strikes on nine terror targets in PoK and Pakistan under Operation Sindoor.

The MoD said Pakistan attempted to engage military targets using drones and missiles in northern and western parts of the country, including Awantipura, Srinagar, Jammu, Pathankot, Amritsar, Kapurthala, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Adampur, Bathinda, Chandigarh, Nal, Phalodi, Uttarlai and Bhuj. All these sites have important Army and Air Force installations, including fighter jet and UAV bases, air defence units, tank formations and transport planes. Also, Jalandhar is the headquarters of the Army’s XI Corps while the Army’s Western Command is based at Chandimandir, less than 2 km from Chandigarh.

The ministry also said Pakistan had increased the intensity of its unprovoked firing across the Line of Control (LoC) using mortars and heavy-calibre artillery in areas in Kupwara, Baramulla, Uri, Poonch, Mendhar and Rajouri sectors in Jammu and Kashmir. “Indian armed forces reiterate their commitment to non-escalation, provided it is respected by the Pakistani military,” the MoD said.

In Islamabad, an agency quoted a Pakistan army official as saying that drones were neutralised in Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Chakwal, Bahawalpur, Miano, Karachi, Chhor and Attock.

Amarinder warns Pak against any escalation

India-Pakistan Tensions: Amritsar’s Golden Temple Joins MHA-Ordered Blackout Drill

Sikhs belong to India, not just Punjab

UK Parliament debates India-Pakistan conflict, appeals for de-escalation

Blast heard in Pakistan’s Lahore amid tensions with India

Missile part found in Punjab’s border village; sparks panic, villagers say ‘no explosion heard’

Aptly named, operation a message of justice, says Lt Narwal’s family

Op Sindoor: Images reveal extensive damage to terror camps in Pakistan’s Bahawalpur, Muridke

Device falls from sky in Ghagwal village ouse

Why Punjab, as a frontline state with Pakistan, is key to success of Ops Sindoor & what happens now

Why India avenged Pahalgam by striking LeT, Jaish centres in Pakistan Punjab : Christine Fair

Ops Sindoor: India shares video of targeted missile attack on terror camps, list of the launch pads

A call for collective sanity in these violent times

Precision, power, preparedness : India’s new war doctrine by Lt Gen Dushyant Singh retd

Tighten the noose around Pakistan

Residents of border villages start moving to safer places; don’t panic, says admn

Operation Sankalp’: 22 Naxalites killed in encounter with security forces in Chhattisgarh

Operation Sindoor and women-led briefing: India sends a firm, symbolic message to Pak & world

Rising India-Pak tensions cast shadow over weddings in Punjab’s border districts

Terror dens hit with precision, no civilian harmed: Rajnath

Pahalgam avenged, India strikes Pakistan

Pakistan continues shelling along LoC in J&K after India’s Operation Sindoor

Saying the action against Pakistan was overdue, BJP leader and former Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Wednesday warned Pakistan against any escalation in the situation. Talking to The Tribune, the former CM complimented the defence forces for precision strikes…

Sanjeev Bariana Tribune News Service

Saying the action against Pakistan was overdue, BJP leader and former Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Wednesday warned Pakistan against any escalation in the situation.

Talking to The Tribune, the former CM complimented the defence forces for precision strikes on terror camps inside Pakistan and Pakistan Occupied Kashmir.

“The action was overdue as Pakistan had not been desisting from exporting terror into our country, like killing 26 innocent tourists in Pahalgam,” he said.

The most important aspect of the action of the Indian forces was how precise it was in hitting its targets without any civilian or military casualties. “Our target was the terrorist training camps and we have hit them hard and that is it,” he said.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said the whole country was united in this fight against terrorism. “We are proud of our brave soldiers. A total of 140 crore citizens are standing with the Indian forces,” he said.

The Leader of the Oposition in the Punjab Assembly, Partap Singh Bajwa condemned Pakistan’s vile aggression along the Line of Control and the cowardly Pahalgam attack.

“Punjab, India’s defiant frontier, stands as our nation’s iron heart. From the crucible of 1947-48 to the victories of 1965, 1971, and Kargil, Punjabis have bled for India’s honour, their valour unmatched. They fortify our forces with unyielding courage. Pakistan should end its treachery. Bound by Punjab’s fearless spirit, our brave soldiers will fight, triumph and defend our sacred land to the last,” he said.

Punjab BJP president, Sunil Jakhar said Indian forces had once again demonstrated their valour by launching a strong attack on terrorism, destroying ultras’ hideouts and proving that we would not tolerate terrorism and oppression.

“The entire nation stands like a rock with our armed forces. Farmer leaders and others need to postpone their protests and demonstrations for now, as this is a time to confront the enemy,” he said.

ribuneindia.com invites contributions to SHAHARNAMA. Share anecdotes, unforgettable incidents, impressionable moments that define your cities, neighbourhoods, what the city stands for, what makes its people who they are. Send your contributions in English, not exceeding 150 words, to shaharnama@tribunemail.com Do include your social media handles (X/ Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn)

Amanpreet Singh

I decided to pursue journalism while still in college, and that too from the IIMC (Indian Institute of Mass Communication), New Delhi. Luckily, I have been able to clear the IIMC’s entrance exam and secure admission. This has given me the opportunity to stay in Dil walon ki Dilli.

This is the first time I have lived anywhere outside my home state of Jammu and Kashmir. The experience has been wonderful.

I have often wondered who is actually a Dilliwala as here in the capital of India you find people from every corner of the country who have made this city their home.

Delhi has a much larger population than its capacity area-wise, and despite the pollution, traffic jams and many other problems, it still goes on. The best thing about living here is the IIMC’s location. Situated within the JNU campus, it is surrounded by lush greenery of Sanjay Van. The wooded area offers tranquillity and peace despite being situated in Delhi.

Many times, I wake up to the sounds of peacocks and other birds, and if I am lucky, even the sight of a peacock.

Travelling in metro is a boon; otherwise, the costly rickshaws will rip anyone off. Overall, the people are kind — not rude, like we often hear mistakenly.

There is another mistaken belief that I have to often hear and bear — of me being a Punjabi. Because I am a Sikh, I haven’t found a single person who didn’t consider me a Punjabi. It is something new for me, as I never have to face this back home. Almost everyone here has been like, “Oh, I thought you are from Punjab.”

And I don’t feel bad about it. I just think people should be aware that there are Sikhs in other parts of India also, and should know that not every Sikh is a Punjabi.

I am from Jammu and Kashmir, and my family has been living there for generations. Most people don’t know that there is a good number of Sikh population in Jammu and Kashmir which is native to that place

I am really proud of the place where I come from. I just hope people realise someday that Sikhs belong to India and not just Punjab.

Amanpreet Singh, Jammu/New Delhi

UK shadow foreign secretary Priti Patel highlights India’s right to take ‘reasonable and proportionate’ steps to defend itself

The rising tensions between India and Pakistan in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor targeting terror camps in PoK was debated at length in the British Parliament, with members across parties appealing for UK efforts to aid de-escalation in the region.

India launched Operation Sindoor early Wednesday, hitting nine terror targets in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and Pakistan’s Punjab province in retaliation for the April 22 terror attack that killed 26 people in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam.

UK Foreign Office Minister Hamish Falconer opened the debate in the House of Commons on Wednesday with a statement reiterating Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s earlier remarks over the importance of diplomacy and dialogue.

He also expressed concerns related to the very “personal” aspect of the conflict for a large number of British Indians and British Pakistanis in the country.

“Our consistent message to both India and Pakistan has been to show restraint. They need to engage in dialogue to find a swift, diplomatic path forward,” said Falconer.

“The UK has a close and unique relationship with both countries. It is heartbreaking to see civilian lives being lost. If this escalates further, nobody wins. We clearly condemned the horrific terrorist attack last month,” he said referring to the Pahalgam terror attack and said it was the worst such attack for many years for that region.

“Now, we need all sides to focus urgently on the steps needed to restore regional stability and ensure the protection of civilians,” Falconer said.

He asserted that the UK will continue to work closely with international partners in pursuit of “short-term de-escalation and longer-term stability”. “We now need to see calm heads. Britain will continue to play its full part for de-escalation and diplomacy,” he said.

UK shadow foreign secretary Priti Patel highlighted India’s right to take “reasonable and proportionate” steps to defend itself, and to dismantle the “vile terrorist infrastructure” that has caused death and continues to threaten Indian security.

“Terrorists based in Pakistan threaten India and western interests — it was the country that Osama bin Laden was hiding in — and because of the long history of violence being inflicted by terrorists on India, the UK has in place long-standing security cooperation agreements with India,” noted the British Indian MP.

She went on to question if Britain could offer specific support that might help avert escalation and also asked for the government’s assessment of who carried out the terror attack in Kashmir on April 22.

India-born Labour MP Jas Athwal addressed the Commons on a personal note, highlighting that his parents were born in Pakistan. “I know only too well that neither nation will take a backward step, so what can the minister do to assure me and my residents in Ilford South that we will do everything possible to bring both the superpowers to the negotiating table to restore peace to this volatile part of the world,” he asked.

Conservative Party MP Bob Blackman called for terrorist bases to be removed “once and for all” from Pakistan.

“It was made clear at the time by India that either Pakistan removes the terrorist spaces along the line of control, or India would remove them… nine sites were hit; Those were terrorist bases where terrorists were being trained to commit further atrocities in India,” he said.

India conducts blackout drills near Pakistan border; global powers urge a calming of tensions

A blast was heard in Pakistan’s eastern city of Lahore on Thursday morning, according to broadcaster Geo TV and a Reuters witness, a day after Indian strikes at multiple locations in the country and fears of an escalation in conflict between the nuclear-armed neighbours.

There was no immediate word on the reason for the blast.

India hit “terrorist infrastructure” in Pakistan in the early hours of Wednesday, two weeks after it accused the Islamic nation of involvement in an attack in Pahalgam in which 26 people were killed.

Islamabad had denied the accusation and vowed to retaliate to the missile strikes.

Pakistan says at least 31 of its civilians were killed and about 50 wounded in the strikes and in cross-border shelling that followed, while India says 13 of its civilians died and 43 were wounded.

The cross-border exchange of fire tapered off slightly overnight, Indian officials said.

India also conducted blackout drills in regions close to its border with Pakistan, including the northern city of Amritsar which houses the Golden Temple, in anticipation of retaliation to its strikes.

In Pakistan, meanwhile, most cities restored some normalcy and children returned to school, but in the border province of Punjab, hospitals and civil defence authorities remained on high alert.

Although Pakistan’s federal government has pledged to respond to India’s strikes, Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif told The New York Times on Wednesday that Pakistan was ready to de-escalate.

With India saying it would “respond” if Pakistan “responds”, global powers have urged a calming of tensions.

US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday he hoped the countries could “work it out”, adding he “will be there” if he can help.

Police officials say they could not ascertain whether it was part of an Indian or a Pakistani missile

Panic gripped Jethuwal village in Amritsar after a part of a missile was found there on Thursday.

Police officials said they could not ascertain whether it was part of an Indian or a Pakistani missile.”There was neither any explosion nor any impact on the ground,” said SSP Amritsar rural Maninder Singh.

People did not hear any sound of explosion in the village. The people found it lying in the agricultural fields in Jethuwal village and informed the police.

Police and forensic teams have been examining it, he said.

Welcomes offensive against Pakistan

Parveen Arora Tribune News Service

Emotions ran high at the residence of Naval officer Lt Vinay Narwal, killed in the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, after news broke out of the airstrikes on nine terror targets in Pakistan.

For the grieving family, Operation Sindoor was not just a military offensive, but a message of justice.

“When my son was killed, everyone asked me what I wanted. I had said I have faith in the government that it will do something. Today, the government has delivered. The strikes on Pakistan’s terror camps have not just caused them losses, but also instilled fear in their hearts,” said Rajesh Narwal, father of Lt Narwal.

“Operation Sindoor is a powerful message. The terrorists who destroyed the sacred bond of our daughters and sisters, who snatched away their ‘suhaag’ (husbands), have been shown the might of India. The strikes bring some solace to our wounded hearts,” he added.

“I am thankful to the government for this action. I bless our soldiers from the bottom of my heart. What they have done today is not ordinary—it is a courageous and necessary step. We stand by our armed forces,” said Lt Narwal’s mother Asha.

All family members echoed her sentiment. “This is the kind of response that was needed. The entire country stands behind this decision. We pray that such barbaric acts never recur. We salute our soldiers, and are with them in every way,” said Maya, a relative of the young officer.

The strikes, targeting key strongholds of Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), were launched in retaliation for the April 22 Pahalgam terror

Satellite imagery, released by Maxar Technologies and accessed by Reuters, has provided stark visual evidence of the destroyed terror infrastructure in Pakistan’s Bahawalpur and Muridke caused by India’s precision missile strikes, carried out under ‘Operation Sindoor’ in the early hours of Wednesday.

The strikes, targeting key strongholds of Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), were launched in retaliation for the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir, which claimed 26 lives, mostly tourists.

Before-and-after satellite images of the Jamia Masjid Subhan Allah in Bahawalpur, the operational headquarters of JeM, show significant damage.

Colonel Sofiya Qureshi of the Indian Army, during a press briefing on the operation on Wednesday, confirmed the destruction of the Markaz Subhanallah in Bahawalpur, located 100 km inside Pakistan, stating, “It was the headquarters of Jaish-e-Mohammed, targeted by Indian Armed Forces.” Markaz Subhan Allah, Bahawalpur, operational since 2015, is the main centre of JeM for training and indoctrination and serves as the operational headquarters of JeM. It is associated with terrorist planning by JeM, including the Pulwama attack on February 14, 2019.

The Markaz consists of residences of JeM Chief Maulana Masood Azhar, de facto Chief of JeM Mufti Abdul Rauf Asghar, Maulana Ammar and other family members of Masood Azhar. Masood Azhar has made several addresses from this facility, extolling anti-India rhetoric and appealing to youth to join Islamic Jihad. JeM conducts regular arms, physical and religious training for its cadres at Markaz Subhan Allah.

Similarly, satellite imagery of Muridke, a hub of LeT, shows the aftermath of strikes on Markaz Taiba. Pre-strike images display a sprawling complex with multiple buildings, while post-strike visuals reveal extensive structural damage.

Markaz Taiba, Muridke, established in the year 2000, is the ‘alma mater’ and the most important training centre of LeT in Pakistan. The complex holds arms and physical training facilities, as well as dawa’h and radicalisation for terror entities, both from within Pakistan and abroad.

This Markaz enrols around 1000 students in different courses annually, highlighting the role of this Markaz in churning out terror entities for LeT annually.

Pointing to Markaz Taiba in Muridke, Colonel Qureshi, during the briefing, said that the complex was 18-25 km inside Pakistan and that “those involved in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks trained here, including Ajmal Kasab and David Headley”.

Osama Bin Laden had financed Rs 10 million to construct a Mosque and Guest House within the complex.