Tensions between India and Pakistan sharply escalated late Thursday night as India’s air defence systems intercepted a major aerial offensive by Pakistan, downing several aircraft and drones after Islamabad launched coordinated attacks on multiple locations in Jammu and Punjab. The Indian government confirmed the destruction of a Pakistani F-16 fighter jet, two JF-17s, and an Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) plane deep inside Pakistani territory.
The high-alert military confrontation follows India’s precision strikes under “Operation Sindoor” earlier this week, aimed at terror infrastructure inside Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), which reportedly eliminated several militant targets.
According to Indian defence sources, Pakistan launched an unprecedented aerial and drone attack on Thursday night targeting military and civilian infrastructure. Several Pakistani rockets were fired across the International Border, specifically at Jammu, and the Jammu Civil Airport suffered damage after being hit by one of the drones.
The offensive did not stop there. Kamikaze drones were also launched at Poonch, while missile threats were detected near the heavily populated areas of RS Pura, Arnia, and Samba. In all, India’s integrated air defence intercepted and neutralized eight Pakistani missiles using the S-400 Triumf system, regarded as one of the world’s most sophisticated surface-to-air missile systems.
“The threat was neutralized as per Standard Operating Procedures (SoP) using both kinetic and non-kinetic means,” a statement from the Integrated Defence Staff read. “There were no casualties or infrastructure losses due to the swift action taken by the Indian Armed Forces.”
Within minutes of detecting incoming hostile aircraft and drones, the Indian Air Force scrambled fighter jets from key bases in Ambala, Pathankot, and Srinagar. Engagements with Pakistani jets occurred near the Line of Control (LoC), leading to the downing of an F-16 and two JF-17s that had violated Indian airspace.
In a significant strategic victory, the Indian Air Force also brought down a Pakistani AWACS aircraft over Pakistan’s Punjab province. The AWACS, critical for radar surveillance and battle management, is a key asset for any air operation. The aircraft reportedly fell within Pakistani territory, though its status and crew casualties remain unconfirmed by Islamabad.
Sources within the Indian military described the move as a “clear demonstration of air dominance and response readiness.”
Tensions had already been simmering in the days leading up to this confrontation. Less than 48 hours prior, India had launched Operation Sindoor, a series of coordinated strikes against terror camps operating in Pakistan and PoK.
The targets included prominent bases linked to Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Taiba, two militant groups held responsible for several terror attacks on Indian soil. Notably, a Lashkar camp in Muridke and a Jaish hub in Bahawalpur were reportedly destroyed in precision airstrikes. Indian intelligence agencies estimated that over 100 militants were eliminated during the operations.
Pakistan condemned the action as an “unprovoked act of war,” although India maintained that the strikes were surgical, based on credible intelligence, and aimed solely at non-state militant actors.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh reiterated India’s stance: “We will not tolerate terror launching pads operating under the shelter of a neighbouring state. Our actions are calibrated, targeted, and justified.”
Drones played a central role in Thursday night’s escalation. Apart from those targeting Jammu, Indian forces intercepted drones in Udhampur, Rajasthan’s Jaisalmer, and over Jammu University. Two kamikaze drones—low-flying, single-use UAVs designed to explode on impact—were taken down in Poonch.
According to a senior official in India’s Northern Command, drone interceptions have now become “routine, but critical.”
“Every month, we see an increasing use of drones not just for reconnaissance, but as offensive weapons. These aren’t amateur devices. Many are Chinese-manufactured, GPS-guided, and highly destructive,” the official said.
In a parallel development, Pakistani troops resumed unprovoked shelling along the Line of Control, hitting districts in Kupwara, Baramulla, Uri, Poonch, and Samba. Shelling started late Thursday evening and continued intermittently through the night. Civilian areas were targeted, leading to temporary evacuations in forward villages.
No fatalities have been reported so far, but infrastructure damage and panic in border districts have prompted both state and central disaster management teams to be put on alert.
As tension escalates, civilian life along India’s northern border has been severely disrupted. Thousands of residents in border villages have moved to makeshift shelters and army camps. Schools and colleges within 10 km of the border in Jammu, Samba, and Kathua have been shut down until further notice.
Additionally, major civilian airports in northern India including Jammu, Pathankot, and Srinagar were temporarily placed on high alert, with commercial flights delayed or rerouted.
State authorities confirmed that emergency supplies, including food and medical kits, have been dispatched to affected zones.
India’s swift military response is widely seen as a message to both its domestic audience and international observers that it will not tolerate any breach of sovereignty.
Speaking anonymously, a senior Indian Air Force officer stated: “This is a new doctrine. We respond in minutes, not days. Our goal is not escalation, but deterrence. If provoked, our response will be disproportionate.”
The political leadership in New Delhi also backed the armed forces unequivocally. Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a high-level security review meeting at 3 a.m., attended by the Defence Minister, NSA Ajit Doval, and the Chiefs of the Army, Navy, and Air Force.
The international community has expressed alarm over the rapid military escalation between two nuclear-armed neighbours.
The United States urged both countries to de-escalate. “We are closely monitoring the situation. We urge restraint, direct communication, and de-escalation between India and Pakistan,” U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said.
China and the European Union have also called for dialogue, while Russia offered to mediate, emphasizing that “regional stability is at stake.”
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif warned that the region faces a “clear and present” threat of nuclear conflict if diplomatic channels break down. “Our strategic forces remain alert. Any further aggression will be met with full force,” he stated.
India, on its part, reiterated that it remains committed to peace, but will act decisively if provoked.
As of Friday morning, both nations remain on high alert. India’s border states are under security lockdown, and Pakistan has moved additional troops to forward bases. Intelligence inputs suggest that further attempts at drone strikes or retaliatory action by Pakistan cannot be ruled out.
India, however, appears determined to maintain tactical superiority and pre-empt future threats. The Defence Ministry confirmed that surveillance operations have been intensified and “proactive measures are ongoing.”
