Pakistan’s Drone Attack on Golden Temple Thwarted by Indian Air Defence
Pakistan Targets Golden Temple With Drones, India Foils Attack
In a shocking development, Pakistani forces attempted to target the revered Golden Temple in Amritsar with drones and missiles on the night of May 7-8. This attack, a direct retaliation to India’s Operation Sindoor, a military strike on nine terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir, was thwarted by the vigilant Indian Army.
Anticipated Retaliation
Major General Kartik C Seshadri, General Officer Commanding of the 15th Infantry Division, revealed that the Indian Army had anticipated this retaliation. He stated, ‘Knowing that the Pak Army does not have any legitimate targets, we anticipated that they would target Indian military installations, civilian targets including religious places.’
The Golden Temple, being a prominent religious site, was a likely target for the Pakistani forces.
Prepared Defence System
The Indian Army, prepared for such an attack, deployed additional modern air defence assets to provide a robust shield around the Golden Temple. Major General Seshadri explained, ‘We mobilised additional modern air defence assets to give a holistic air defence umbrella cover to Golden Temple.
Thwarted Attack
In the early hours of May 8, Pakistani forces launched a large-scale air assault under the cover of darkness, utilizing drones and long-range missiles. However, the Indian Army’s air defence gunners were alert and successfully intercepted and destroyed all incoming threats.
Major General Seshadri proudly stated, ‘Our braveheart and alert army air defence gunners thwarted Pakistan Army’s nefarious designs and shot down all drones and missiles targeted at the Golden Temple. Thus, not allowing even a scratch to come on our holy Golden Temple.’
Demonstration of Air Defence Capabilities
To showcase their preparedness, the Indian Army conducted a demonstration, highlighting the effectiveness of their air defence systems, including the AKASH missile system and L-70 Air Defence Guns, in neutralizing the Pakistani drones and missiles.
Wider Scope of Attacks
The defence ministry confirmed that multiple Indian cities and military bases were targeted in the overnight assault, including Amritsar, Jammu, Srinagar, Pathankot, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Chandigarh, and Bhuj. Explosions were also reported across Kashmir. The ministry stated that these attacks were neutralized by the Integrated Counter-UAS Grid and Air Defence systems.
Background
These attacks came in response to India’s Operation Sindoor – a coordinated military strike on nine terror camps across Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir. The operation was conducted on April 22 in response to a deadly terrorist attack in Pahalgam that claimed the lives of 26 civilians.
