New Delhi: In its continuing bid to escalate the existing situation, Pakistan used Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicles (UCAVs), drones, long-range weapons, loitering munitions and fighter jets to attack India’s military sites along the western border since Friday evening, Col Sofiya Qureshi of the Indian Army said.
India has reacted to these strikes in a calm and responsible manner. Military infrastructure in Pakistan, including air bases, have been struck by Indian long-range missiles, she said at a special briefing by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and the Indian Armed Forces on Saturday morning.
Such attacks took place at more than 26 places. While most of the attacks were thwarted, there was some damage to equipment and personnel at Indian Air Force (IAF) bases at Udhampur, Bhuj, Pathankot and Bathinda, she said.
Col Qureshi also accused Pakistan of using civilian flights from Lahore as cover to carry out it’s military strikes.
Wing Commander Vyomika Singh of the Indian Air Force rebutted claims by Pakistan that Indian air bases have been badly hit. She shared images and videos of these air bases with dates and time.
It has also been denied that any damage was caused to India’s S-400 missile defence system or other infrastructure.
“As a condemnable and unprofessional act, Pakistan targeted hospitals and school premises at air bases at Srinagar, Awantipur and Udhampur. This once again revealed their irresponsible tendency of attacking civil infrastructure,” Col Qureshi added.
Indian foreign secretary Vikram Misri said: “Earlier this morning, Pakistan shelled the town of Rajouri, killing the Additional District Development Commissioner Raj Kumar Thapa, adding to the civilian casualties and the damage in that state…”
