Pakistan inviting trouble; provokes India again with drone attack; nearly 400 drones destroyed

NEW DELHI: Embarrassed by the retaliation for the terror attack in Pahalgam, Pakistan carried out drone attacks in the border areas for the third day, but India destroyed them all in the air. Despite India attacking four air defence posts in Pakistan yesterday and destroying the radar at one of the posts, Pakistan continued its drone attacks yesterday as well.

Drones were flying along the border from Jammu and Kashmir to Gujarat. Drones were also targeting Jammu city. Explosions were heard in Samba and Rajouri areas. Drones were also fired at Jaisalmer in Rajasthan, but failed. Amritsar was also targeted. There are indications that a drone fell in a residential area of ​​Ferozepur in Punjab, injuring a few people.

Following the Pakistani provocation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a meeting with Defense Minister Rajnath Singh, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and the armed forces chiefs. Similar to Thursday night, the drones came in large numbers from 9 pm yesterday, but did not hit any targets.

The attacks took place in Jammu and Samba districts last night. All the border villages were in darkness as the instructions were given to switch off the lights. The drone attacks took place in 36 places from Siachen Base Camp in Ladakh to Kachchh region in Gujarat on Thursday night.

Turkish drones

Colonel Sofiya Qureshi and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh said in a press conference that the air defense system shot down the Pakistani drones that came to the western border. Most of the 300-400 drones were equipped with cameras to capture footage of military installations. These are Turkish Asisguard drones. The army neutralised an armed drone that targeted the Bhatinda air base late on the night of May 8. Although there were reports that India had attacked Pakistani cities, the army has not confirmed it.

Civilian planes used as shields

During the Indian drone and missile attacks on Thursday night, Pakistan also tried to put innocent passengers at risk by diverting international flights through its airspace. The aim was to put the blame on India. The Flynas Aviation Airbus 320 from Dammam landed in Lahore at 9.10 pm. India has closed 24 airports along the border until the 15th.

Heavy shelling kills soldier

Pakistan Army violated the Line of Control in Tangdhar, Uri, Poonch, Mendar, Rajouri, Akhnoor and Udhampur in Jammu and Kashmir region and carried out heavy shelling. Lance Naik Murali Naik (25) from the Sathya Sai district of Andhra Pradesh was martyred in the shelling. He was posted in Jammu a week ago. The shelling caused extensive damage in border villages. The Ministry of Defence said that the Pakistani army also suffered heavy losses in India's retaliation.

Seven terrorists killed

• On the night of May 8, seven terrorists who tried to infiltrate along the International Border in the Samba district of Jammu and Kashmir were killed by the BSF.
• Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said that Pakistan's claim that Indian armed forces attacked its own cities and gurdwaras is an attempt to create misunderstanding.
• Misri also said that two students of the Carmelites of Mary Immaculate School in Poonch were killed in Pakistani shelling on May 7.