India Accuses Pakistan Of Using Turkish Drones, Civilian Flights As Cover In Attacks Amid Rising Tensions

In a joint press briefing held by India's Ministry of External Affairs and Ministry of Defence, officials stated that Pakistan had used Turkish-made drones and exploited civilian air traffic as cover during a series of aggressive military actions targeting India.

Wing Commander Vyomika Singh, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, and Colonel Sofiya Qureshi addressed the media one day after Pakistan launched a coordinated attack involving drones and missiles aimed at 15 Indian military installations across the northern and western regions.

Photo Credit: PTI

India responded promptly, striking back at multiple locations within Pakistan, focusing on air defence systems. The Indian Armed Forces successfully neutralised Pakistan's air defence grid in Lahore, leading to widespread blackouts in over 15 cities including Srinagar, Chandigarh, and Bhuj.

The Ministry of Defence later confirmed that no casualties or damage to infrastructure occurred on the Indian side, stating that the threat had been effectively countered using both kinetic and non-kinetic methods.

During an earlier briefing on Operation Sindoor on May 7, Indian authorities had maintained that their response to the Pahalgam terror attack was deliberately restrained and non-escalatory, avoiding strikes on any Pakistani military facilities.

According to Thursday's joint statement, on the night of May 7-8, 2025, Pakistan attempted to target military facilities in several Indian cities-Awantipura, Srinagar, Jammu, Pathankot, Amritsar, Kapurthala, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Adampur, Bathinda, Chandigarh, Nal, Phalodi, Uttarlai, and Bhuj-using drones and missiles.

Indian defence systems, including the Integrated Counter-UAS Grid, successfully intercepted and neutralised the threats.

Foreign Secretary Misri emphasised that India's actions were measured and retaliatory in nature, in direct response to the April 22 terror strike in Pahalgam, Kashmir, believed to have been orchestrated by Pakistan-backed militants.

"We have no intention of escalating tensions. Pakistan chose to intensify the situation; our actions have been targeted and proportionate. The choice of further escalation now lies with Pakistan," Misri stated.