India foils Pak attempts to target military targets in northern, western India: Ministry of Defence

New Delhi, May 8: The Ministry of Defence said today that Indian Armed Forces conducted targeted strikes on Pakistani air defence systems following an attempted escalation by Pakistan on the night of May 7–8.

The official statement from the Ministry termed India’s response under "Operation Sindoor" as focused, measured and non-escalatory. It emphasized that Indian forces had specifically avoided targeting civilian or non-military sites in Pakistan, underlining India’s commitment to restraint and proportionality.

According to the Defence Ministry, Pakistan launched a series of drone and missile attacks targeting multiple military locations across Northern and Western India, including cities such as Srinagar, Jammu, Amritsar, Ludhiana, Chandigarh, and Bhuj. However, Indian Integrated Counter-UAS and Air Defence systems successfully neutralized these attacks, with debris recovered from several sites confirming Pakistani involvement.

In retaliation, Indian forces this morning struck Pakistani air defence radars and systems, with confirmed hits on several installations. Sources indicated that an air defence system in Lahore was among those neutralised.

Meanwhile, the Line of Control (LoC) has seen intensified shelling from Pakistan, with heavy mortar and artillery fire reported in the Kupwara, Baramulla, Uri, Poonch, Mendhar, and Rajouri sectors of Jammu and Kashmir. The firing resulted in the death of sixteen civilians, including women and children, said the Ministry of Defence.

Calling the firing "unprovoked," the Defence Ministry said India was compelled to respond to halt further loss of civilian lives and damage to infrastructure. It reiterated that while India remains committed to non-escalation, any further targeting of military assets on Indian soil will invite a suitable response.