In a sharp escalation of hostilities, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) revealed during its third official press briefing since Operation Sindoor that Pakistan deployed Turkish-made drones to target Indian military and civilian installations along the western border.
Colonel Sofiya Qureshi, representing the Indian Army, stated that between the night of May 7 and early May 8, Pakistan violated Indian airspace multiple times, using a combination of drones and heavy artillery shelling to target 36 sensitive locations across border states.
“Around 300 to 400 drones were used to attempt infiltration at 36 locations. The Indian armed forces shot down many of these drones using kinetic and non-kinetic means. The possible purpose of such large-scale aerial intrusions was to test our air defence systems and gather intelligence,” Colonel Qureshi said.
She further confirmed that initial forensic investigation of the downed drones revealed they were Turkish Asisguard Songar drones, known for their surveillance and light attack capabilities.
According to Indian intelligence assessments, the drones were aimed at vital installations such as military bases, IAF stations, ammunition dumps, and even civilian areas spread across 24 Indian cities. The pattern suggests an intent to probe India’s air defence response time and resilience.
Despite the scale of the assault, India successfully neutralised these threats, thanks to the S-400 Triumf defence system and an integrated UAS counter-drone grid, ensuring no significant damage was inflicted.
India has reiterated that while it seeks non-escalatory solutions, any further provocation from Pakistan will be met with decisive force.
