India foils Pakistani drone-missile attack on 15 cities, destroys Lahore's air defence in retaliation; 7 Punjab cities & Chandigarh were on target
PTC Web Desk: Indian armed forces successfully repelled a large-scale drone and missile attack launched by Pakistan late Wednesday night, neutralising a significant portion of Pakistan's air defence network, including the Chinese-origin HQ-9 missile system deployed in Lahore. This retaliation came after Pakistan attempted to strike 15 Indian military installations in response to Operation Sindoor, India's earlier strike on terror camps across the border.
According to official sources, Indian forces targeted multiple Pakistani air defence radars, with confirmed destruction of the missile system in Lahore. The operation rendered Pakistani military assets in the region significantly vulnerable.
On the night of May 7–8, Pakistan launched drones and missiles toward strategic Indian locations, including military bases in Awantipura, Srinagar, Jammu, Pathankot, Amritsar, Kapurthala, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Adampur, Bhatinda, Chandigarh, Nal, Phalodi, Uttarlai, and Bhuj. The Indian military successfully intercepted these threats using the Integrated Counter UAS (Unmanned Aircraft System) Grid, bolstered by the Russian-made S-400 air defence system.
In its official statement, the Indian government reaffirmed its intent to avoid further escalation but warned that its restraint hinges on Pakistani military conduct.
“The Indian armed forces reiterate their commitment to non-escalation, provided it is respected by the Pakistani military,” the statement read.
Explosions rock Lahore, flight ops affected
Following the Indian counter-attack, a series of loud explosions were reported near Lahore’s Walton Airport. Sirens triggered panic, with residents seen fleeing into the streets. The area is adjacent to Lahore’s central business district and military cantonment. Local media and Reuters reported plumes of smoke rising near the impacted zones.
As a precaution, flight operations at Lahore, Sialkot, and Karachi airports were temporarily suspended. No civilian casualties or infrastructure damage have been officially reported in Lahore so far.
Pakistan's claim and India's response
Shortly after the strikes, Pakistan acknowledged that one Indian drone crashed near Lahore, while 12 others were intercepted over Gujranwala, Chakwal, Bahawalpur, Miano, Karachi, Chhor, Rawalpindi, and Attock. The Pakistani military reported injuries to four soldiers in Lahore and one civilian fatality in Miano, Sindh.
- With inputs from agencies
