MEA Briefing on Operation Sindoor: Pak using its civil aircraft as shield, says Colonel Sofiya Qureshi

In a media briefing by the External Affairs Ministry on Friday evening, sharing details of the Indian Armed Forces’ counter action to Pakistan violations on Indian soil with heavy artillery, Colonel Sofiya Qureshi said that Pakistan was learned to be using its civil aircraft as shield. 

Here are some of the edited excerpts from Colonel Qureshi’s statement: 

• On the night of May 8 and May 9, Pakistani forces indulged in several violations with its clear intent to target Indian military infrastructure 
• Pak military used heavy calibre weaponry alongside the LoC
• Pakistan targeted 36 locations on Indian soil; its attempts were blocked and neutralised swiftly and effectively
• Pak used around 300-400 drones in its attempts to target these areas along the international border and the LoC, from Leh to Sir Creek  
• Indian defence forces countered Pak attempts strongly and effectively
• Indian Armed Forces used kinetics as well as non-kinetic tools and equipment to neutralise several drones from this Pak fleet
• The motif behind Pakistani military’s move to deploy such a large fleet was possibly to monitor India’s air defence systems and to gather other secret and sensitive information 
• Drone debris is being inspected
• Initial reports suggest that these were Turkish Asisguard Songar drones 
• After this, Pak’s armed UAV attempted to target Bathinda Military Station in Punjab
• This drone was intercepted and neutralised
• In response to Pak’s attack, Indian Armed Forces launched armed drones at 4 air defence spots in Pak; this operation successfully destroyed the AD radar    
• Pak used heavy calibre artillery guns and armed drones targeting Tangdhar, Uri, Poonch, Mendhar, Rajouri, Akhnoor and Udhampur areas in J&K    
• Pak military took significant losses due to India’s retaliatory action 
• Pak’s irresponsible behaviour was evident once again
• Pak chose not to shut its civil airspace after its failed and unreasonable drone and missile attack on May 7
• Pak was using its civil airliners as shield

(This is a breaking news story. More details will be added shortly)

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