In a sharp escalation of hostilities between two nuclear-armed neighbors, India on May 8 launched a fresh wave of drone strikes against Pakistani military targets, a day after its Operation Sindoor rattled Islamabad. The Indian military reportedly used the Israeli-made Harop loitering munitions in precision attacks on multiple Pakistani cities, including Lahore and Karachi.
This marks the first known combat use of Harop drones in the South Asian theatre and has triggered intense diplomatic and military alarm in both countries. The loitering munition, already battle-tested in the Middle East and during the Azerbaijan-Armenia war, now makes its debut in one of the world’s most volatile regions.
According to a statement by the Pakistani military’s Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Indian Harop drones were launched toward several locations: Lahore, Gujranwala, Rawalpindi, Attock, Bahawalpur, Chhor, Miano, and near Karachi.
“India has undertaken yet another blatant act of military aggression,” said DG ISPR Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry during a televised briefing. “So far, 12 Harop drones have been intercepted and neutralized.”
However, Pakistan confirmed that at least one of the drones successfully struck a military site near Lahore, injuring four soldiers and causing what it termed as “partial damage to military equipment.” Though Chaudhry did not elaborate on the nature of the equipment, independent open-source intelligence accounts suggest that the damaged asset may be a Chinese-made LY-80 radar, part of the HQ-16 surface-to-air missile system.
This theory gained more weight after the Indian Ministry of Defense issued a press release confirming that one of the drone strikes successfully neutralized a Pakistani air defense radar system in Lahore. “The Indian Armed Forces targeted Air Defence Radars and systems at a number of locations in Pakistan. One such system at Lahore was neutralized,” the statement read.
The Harop drone, produced by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), is a high-precision, loitering munition designed for Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses (SEAD). It can remain airborne for up to nine hours, scanning for targets before diving in for a direct strike. With a range of 1,000 kilometers and stealth capabilities, the drone is designed to evade traditional radar detection and intercept mechanisms.
It carries a 23-kg warhead and combines EO/IR sensors with anti-radiation homing systems, allowing it to target high-value radar installations, command centers, and surface-to-air missile systems with minimal collateral damage.
India has had the Harop in its arsenal since 2009, having first purchased 10 units for $100 million. Over the years, the fleet has expanded significantly. In 2019, India ordered an additional 54 drones and began considering domestic production under its ‘Strategic Partnership’ model. By 2023, Indian defense firms like Adani Defense were showcasing an indigenous version, dubbed ‘Agnikaa’, at Aero India.
Yet despite the long association, May 8, 2025, marks the first time India has used the drone in combat against Pakistan.
This strike follows Operation Sindoor, launched on May 7, in which Indian fighter jets conducted precision strikes across the Line of Control (LoC), targeting what New Delhi described as terrorist infrastructure. India’s action came in response to a brutal April 22 attack in Kashmir, in which 26 Indian tourists were killed.
Pakistan condemned Operation Sindoor as a violation of its sovereignty, but India framed the move as a “measured counter-terrorism operation.” Nonetheless, Pakistan’s military and political leadership vowed retaliation, setting the stage for further escalation.
The Harop drone strikes on May 8, however, represent a step change — an open confrontation targeting conventional military infrastructure and not just insurgent or non-state actors.
In response to the drone attacks, the Pakistani Air Force and air defense units were placed on high alert. ISPR claimed that its air defense network successfully intercepted the majority of the incoming drones using radar-guided systems and optical tracking.
However, drone defense remains a weak link in most nations’ defense systems, and Pakistan is no exception. A Pakistani defense official, speaking on condition of anonymity, admitted that current radar systems are “not fully equipped” to detect and destroy loitering munitions like the Harop.
“Traditional radar can’t always pick up low-flying, slow-moving drones that use terrain masking and don’t follow ballistic trajectories. The Harop is specifically designed to evade SAMs and engage with pinpoint accuracy,” he said.
Pakistani media outlets have called for an urgent review of the country’s air defense doctrine and investments in counter-UAV systems, which remain in a nascent stage despite recent procurements from Turkey and China.
Military experts see the deployment of loitering munitions as a tactical evolution that allows for precise engagements with lower risk to human personnel. While fighter jet incursions carry the risk of pilots being shot down or captured, drones provide plausible deniability and political flexibility.
“The Harop gives India a surgical tool for highly selective military engagements,” said Lt. Gen. (Retd.) S.P. Sinha, a defense analyst based in New Delhi. “It blurs the line between offense and defense — you can deny, deflect, and delay blame. But it’s also dangerously escalatory.”
From Pakistan’s point of view, this is a red line. A government spokesperson called it “a deliberate act of war, camouflaged as counter-terrorism.”
With both India and Pakistan being nuclear-armed, the risk of escalation has triggered alarm globally. The United Nations urged restraint and called for an emergency Security Council meeting. The U.S. State Department issued a cautious statement urging “both parties to avoid further military confrontation and resume dialogue.”
China, a close ally of Pakistan, condemned India’s strikes, noting the attack on a Chinese-made LY-80 system as “provocative.” Beijing has not indicated any direct involvement but has expressed concern about regional stability.
Israel, the original manufacturer of the Harop, has so far remained silent. However, analysts suggest the use of Israeli-origin weapons by India could further complicate Israel’s already delicate geopolitical balancing act between its partners in South and West Asia.
If confirmed, this would be the beginning of a new drone arms race in South Asia. Both nations already possess offensive UAVs, but the combat use of precision loitering munitions raises the bar significantly.
Pakistan is likely to accelerate its own drone acquisition and development efforts. China and Turkey are the most probable suppliers of counter-loitering munitions or similar systems for Islamabad.
India, on the other hand, has demonstrated not only its capability but also its willingness to use advanced technology in live combat. With Harops already deployed and domestic variants being developed, this is unlikely to be a one-off.
What makes this especially concerning is the lack of red lines. There is no established doctrine, bilateral treaty, or de-escalation mechanism specific to drone warfare in South Asia.
As of now, both militaries remain on high alert. Troop movements have increased along the Line of Control, and both air forces are conducting surveillance flights. Whether this escalates into full-scale conflict or cools under international pressure remains uncertain.
