The government has been holding regular press briefings to provide updates on the ongoing Operation Sindoor, which was launched in retaliation for the Pahalgam terror attack of April 22. In today’s joint briefing by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and the Ministry of Defence, officials revealed that Pakistan had launched drone and missile attacks at 26 locations along the International Border (IB) and the Line of Control (LoC). The government also shared timestamped images of Indian airbases to counter Pakistan’s false narratives.
Before sharing updates on the airbases, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri addressed the escalation of tensions between the two nuclear-armed nations, placing the blame squarely on Pakistan.
“It is Pakistani actions that have constituted provocation and escalation. In response, and I repeat in response, India has defended and reacted in a responsible and measured fashion to these provocations and these escalations by the Pakistani side,” he said during the presser.
India debunks Pakistan’s claims
A few moments later, Colonel Sofiya Qureshi presented videos showing India successfully intercepting and foiling Pakistan’s attacks. Wing Commander Vyomika Singh then shared images from various Indian military bases, which Pakistan had falsely claimed to have destroyed. The visuals clearly showed the airbases unharmed.
Wing Commander Vyomika Singh said, “Pakistani military continued with its provocations, carrying out aggressive actions all along the western border. Pakistan employed U-CAP drones, long-range weapons, loitering munitions and fighter aircrafts to target civil and areas and military infrastructure. Pakistan military also resorted to air intrusions using drones and used heavy calibre weapons along the LoC.”
She further noted that multiple intrusion attempts were made by Pakistan at over 26 locations from Srinagar to Naliya. “Indian Armed Forces successfully neutralised these threats and the majority of the vectors. However, limited damage was sustained to equipment and personnel at Indian Air Force Stations at Udhampur, Pathankot, Adampur and Bhuj,” she revealed.
Wg Cdr Singh also highlighted that Pakistan carried out a wave of high-speed missile attacks on Indian airbases in Punjab during the night, and also attacked the medical centre and school premises at the airbases of Srinagar, Avantipur and Udhampur.
She added, “Indian armed forces carried out precision attacks only on identified military targets. These included technical infrastructure, command and control centres, radar sites and weapon storage areas. Pakistan military targets at Rafiqui, Murid, Chaklala, Rahim Yar Khan, Sukkur, and Chunian were targeted using air-launched precision weapons from our fighter aircraft. Radar sites at Pasrur and Sialkot Aviation Base were also targeted using precision munitions.”
No, Indian airbases were not destroyed by Pakistan
The government has informed that India has suffered minimal collateral damage, and Pakistan’s claims of destroying Indian airbases are unfounded.
“Pakistan has been making false claims of destruction of the S-400 system at Adampur, destruction of airfields at Suratgarh and Sirsa, the BrahMos base at Nagrota, artillery positions at Dera Angyari, and the Forward Ammunition Depot (FAD) at Chandigarh,” before adding, “India unequivocally rejects these false narratives being spread by Pakistan.”
She also reported that the Pakistan military has been observed moving troops into forward areas, indicating an intent to escalate the conflict further.
Wg Cdr Singh concluded by showing current images from AFS Sirsa and Suratgarh, clearly proving that neither airbase was destroyed, contrary to Pakistan’s claims.