India has decided that any terrorist attack in the future will be considered an “act of war” and will face a strong military response, according to top government sources on Saturday.
PM Modi Holds High-Level Defence Meeting
Amid growing tensions with Pakistan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi called a key meeting at his residence in New Delhi. He was joined by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), and the chiefs of all three defence forces.
This meeting was held after the Indian military carried out airstrikes on four Pakistani airbases early Saturday. These strikes came in response to Pakistan’s earlier attacks on 26 Indian military sites.
Strikes on Pakistani Military Targets
Colonel Sofiya Qureshi from the Indian Army stated that Indian fighter jets had precisely targeted several Pakistani military locations. These included airbases at Rafiqui, Murid, Chaklala, Rahim Yar Khan, Sukkur, and Chunian. Radar installations at Pasrur and Sialkot were also hit. The strikes involved the use of air-launched advanced weapons.
India Briefs Media on Escalation
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, along with Colonel Qureshi and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh, held a press briefing to update on the conflict with Pakistan. Misri described Pakistan’s military actions as “provocation” and “escalation.”
He said, “Pakistan’s actions constituted provocation, escalation. In response, India defended and reacted in a responsible and measured fashion.” During the briefing, officials shared evidence of Pakistan’s aggressive behavior and efforts to mislead the public.
Damage to Indian Bases and Civilian Areas
Despite India’s quick retaliation, some Indian military bases suffered damage. These included airbases in Udhampur, Pathankot, Adampur, Bhuj, and Bathinda, where several personnel were also injured.
Pakistan’s attacks were widely condemned, especially the use of high-speed missiles targeting Punjab’s airbase around 1:40 AM. Moreover, Pakistan’s strikes on areas near schools and hospitals in Srinagar, Awantipora, and Udhampur were labelled as highly unprofessional.
India Rejects Pakistan’s Misinformation Campaign
India also dismissed Pakistan’s false claims about the destruction of Indian military assets. At the joint press conference, Wing Commander Vyomika Singh said that Pakistan was spreading fake news about damage to India’s advanced defence systems and bases.
She pointed out that the claims about the S-400 system in Adampur, airfields in Suratgarh and Sirsa, the BrahMos site in Nagrota, and artillery positions in Dehrangyari and Chandigarh were all baseless.
She stressed, “India unequivocally rejects these false narratives, which are part of a broader strategy to undermine India’s military capabilities and instil fear among the public.”
Cross-Border Shelling Reported
Several incidents of intense shelling and firing across the India-Pakistan border were reported throughout Saturday. These further added to the already tense situation.
