New Delhi: India has dismissed Pakistan’s assertions regarding severe damage to its military infrastructure following overnight cross-border strikes. During a special briefing on Saturday morning, senior officials from India’s Ministry of External Affairs, Indian Army, and Indian Air Force addressed the media, characterizing Pakistan's actions as "provocative" while emphasizing that India's response was “calm, proportionate, and effective.”
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, alongside Army Colonel Sofiya Qureshi and Air Force Wing Commander Vyomika Singh, provided an in-depth assessment of Operation Sindoor—India’s retaliatory action in response to the deadly attack in Pahalgam on April 22, which claimed 26 lives.
Misri strongly rejected the Pakistani claims, calling them a “tissue of lies.” He accused Pakistan of fabricating reports about the destruction of critical Indian infrastructure, such as airbases and air defense systems. “There have been allegations that large parts of India’s critical infrastructure, power grids, and cyber systems were damaged. These claims are completely false,” Misri affirmed. He added that the majority of the targeted sites had returned to normal operations.
India confirmed that 26 sites were targeted by Pakistan, which used drones, missiles, loitering munitions, and airstrikes. Among the locations hit were airbases in Udhampur, Pathankot, Bathinda, Bhuj, and Adampur. Colonel Qureshi detailed that Pakistan launched high-speed missiles at the Punjab airbase at approximately 1:40 AM, which resulted in some damage to military equipment and personnel injuries. However, she noted that India had intercepted several threats and neutralized many of them. “India effectively neutralized a number of dangers,” she added, presenting visuals showing that several airbases, including Sirsa and Suratgarh, remained operational.
Colonel Qureshi further mentioned that Pakistani forces attempted to breach Indian airspace at over 26 locations during the night, including drone incursions and sightings of armed UAVs over Baramulla, Srinagar, Avantipora, Jammu, Pathankot, Bhuj, and Jaisalmer. Indian forces responded with a combination of radar-guided countermeasures and kinetic intercepts. "Pakistan's attempts to attack civilian sites like health facilities and schools in Srinagar, Avantipora, and Udhampur represent a dangerous escalation and a breach of international norms," she said.
Wing Commander Vyomika Singh condemned Pakistan’s ongoing “misinformation campaign,” specifically rejecting claims that India’s advanced S-400 missile defense system had been destroyed or that its airbases were incapacitated. “Pakistan has continued to spread malicious falsehoods about the destruction of India’s S-400 system and airfields in Surat and Sirsa,” Singh said, emphasizing that these reports were completely unfounded.
In response to the escalating situation, Pakistan reported powerful explosions early on Saturday across multiple airbases, including a significant installation near Islamabad. As a result, Pakistan temporarily closed its airspace to civilian and commercial flights. India responded by launching precision airstrikes targeting key Pakistani military assets, including command centers, radar installations, and critical infrastructure.
Colonel Qureshi outlined that the airstrikes targeted facilities in Rafiqui, Murid, Chaklala, and Rahim Yar Khan, with additional hits on radar sites at Pasrur and Sialkot. She stated that the strikes were carefully calibrated to minimize collateral damage.
As tensions between India and Pakistan continue to rise, both sides remain engaged in military actions while the international community watches closely, hoping for de-escalation and diplomatic engagement.