(LR) Foreign Minister Vikram Misri and Colonel Sofiya Qureshi’s wing commander Vyomika Singh were on Friday at a foreign ministry press conference at Sindoor Operation in New Delhi on Friday. |Picture source: ANI
India accused Pakistan of “using civilian airliners as shields” on Friday, stressing that Pakistan’s civilian airspace has not been closed in hostilities, despite all border airports on the Indian side.
The strategy was exposed to Pakistan in a formal briefing in Delhi, which continued air strikes over the past 24 hours, dispatching 300-400 drones from Leh to Sir Creek to target Indian military and civilian facilities at 36 locations. The drone was shot down by the Indian military. In response to Parker’s attack, India launched armed drones at four air defense sites in Parker. A drone destroyed the advertising radar system.
Pakistan reportedly said they “will not be downgraded” due to the damage suffered by India’s offensive. Jaisalmer reportedly intercepted various aerial threats from Pakistan elsewhere on Friday night.
Strong shelling and line of control on international borders were carried out. “The intermittent sound of the explosion can now be heard from my location, probably heavy cannons,” said Jamu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. Border security forces foiled the infiltration bid in Jamu’s Samba field, killed at least seven terrorists and wreaked havoc on the Pakistan Rangers on Dhandhar Post.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi meets Defense Minister Rajnath Singh, National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and three service directors and defense minister Anil Chauhan to review the development.
Quite a lot of restraint
Colonel Sofiya Qureshi and Colonel Wing Commander Vyomika Singh said in a press conference that the Indian Air Force (IAF) response showed considerable restrictions, ensuring the safety of airlines and passengers.
Two female officials, together with Foreign Minister Vikram Misri, explained why India believes Pakistan is using civilian passenger planes as a shield in the ongoing conflict. They said Pakistan did not close its civilian territory, and launched a failed drone and missile attack at 8:30 pm on May 7. Meanwhile, India suspended civilian flight operations from many airports in J&K, Rajasthan, Punjab, Delhi, Himaal Pradesh and Gujarat and closed airspace.
“Pakistan uses civilian airliners as shields, fully aware that its attack on India will cause a rapid air defense response. This is not safe for unsuspecting civilian airliners, including international aircraft, to fly near the IB between India and Pakistan,” Qureshi and Singh said during flight path data for the Dight of Dight of Punjabsecter in Punjabsecter in Punjabsecter.
“As you have seen, the airspace on the Indian side is absolutely devoid of civil air traffic due to our declared closure. However, there are civil airlines flying, the air route between Karachi and Lahore. Amongst the other civil aircrafts, we have highlighted an aircraft, which is Airbus 320 of Fly Nas aviation, which was originated Damam at 1750 hours and landed later at Lahore at 2110 hours in the night,” both stated.
India also said Pakistan launched a Turkish-made Asisguard Songar armed drone in an aerial attack on military and civil facilities, which were intercepted and shot down. Evidence of Turkish drone emerged from forensic examinations of debris, and this side of the border was found.
But so far, Indian officials have not formally responded to some reports that Pakistan also used Chinese missiles and drones to defend its right to fight against decades-long proxy war in Islamabad. In addition, police and security agencies also said that Rashkar-Teba terrorists used Chinese-made exchanges to secure dialogue during the Pahalgam terrorist attack on April 22.
More so
Published on May 9, 2025
