India-Pakistan Tensions Updates | In a sharp escalation of hostilities, Pakistan launched a wave of drone, missile, and artillery attacks across Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, and Rajasthan late Thursday night, targeting both civilian and military installations. India responded decisively, intercepting all incoming aerial threats and bringing down Pakistani fighter jets and a critical AWACS surveillance system.
The latest attacks come just two days after India’s Operation Sindoor, a set of precision strikes on terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) in retaliation for the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, which killed 26 civilians. India had made clear that no Pakistani military assets were targeted during that mission.
However, on Thursday, Pakistan retaliated with a full-spectrum aerial offensive, including:
- Drone strikes on Jammu Civil Airport
- Multiple missile launches toward key Indian military zones
- Artillery shelling in Rajouri and along the Line of Control (LoC)
- A massive blast reported on the Jammu-Srinagar highway
India Responds With Force: Jets, AWACS Downed
India’s Integrated Counter-UAS Grid and Air Defence Systems were swiftly activated, intercepting eight missiles and dozens of drones. In a powerful counteroffensive:
- One F-16 and two JF-17 fighter jets from Pakistan were shot down
- A Pakistani Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) was destroyed
- India’s strike also crippled Pakistan’s China-made aerial defence shield protecting Lahore, leaving the city vulnerable
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These developments, sources say, mark one of the most severe losses for the Pakistan Air Force in recent years.
Civilian Impact and National Security Measures
Fifteen civilians have been killed in Pakistan’s 14 consecutive days of shelling along the LoC, including one Indian soldier on Thursday
- Schools have been shut across Jammu & Kashmir and Punjab
- Explosions and blackout conditions have become common in border areas, prompting emergency services and evacuations
- Security has been ramped up nationwide, with airports, railway stations, and public venues under heightened alert
A defence official described the visuals from Jammu as “reminiscent of Hamas-style drone attacks on Israel”, illustrating the sophistication and intensity of the Pakistani offensive.
India Communicates With US, Reaffirms Defensive Stance
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar held a high-level call with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, making it clear that India will firmly counter any escalation. The US has called for immediate de-escalation and encouraged both nations to engage in direct dialogue.
ALSO READ: India ‘neutralises’ Pakistan Air Defence System HQ-9 in Lahore after failed missile, drone attacks
Despite the rising tensions, Indian officials and military experts are urging restraint in public discourse. While the situation is “war-like”, there has been no formal declaration of war, and India has consistently maintained a retaliatory and defensive posture.
While Pakistan appears intent on escalating the conflict beyond proxy terror warfare, India has shown tactical superiority and strategic discipline, destroying advanced enemy assets while avoiding civilian collateral damage. Experts suggest the next 72 hours will be critical as diplomatic, military, and civilian preparedness efforts remain in high gear.
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