New Delhi:The Indian Air Force conducted airstrikes on military targets near Karachi, Pakistan, as stated by Air Marshal AK Bharti, the Director-General of Operations for the IAF, during a special briefing on Sunday evening. Air Marshal Bharti described these actions as part of India’s ‘measured and calibrated’ response to Pakistani aggression, which included drone and missile strikes, as well as small arms fire and artillery shelling across the border.
The strikes specifically targeted military facilities, such as a surface-to-air missile site located at Malir Cantonment, approximately 35 kilometers from Karachi. Additionally, the Air Force aimed at a radar installation in Lahore, likely the Chinese-made HQ-9, which was reportedly destroyed by Israeli-made HARPY drones, and another site near Gujranwala in Punjab province.
The announcement of the Air Force’s successful operations near Karachi coincided with the confirmation of the Navy’s involvement in Operation Sindoor, India’s military response to the Pahalgam terror attack linked to the Pakistan-based group Lashkar-e-Taiba. Vice Admiral AN Pramod noted that the Navy’s carrier battle groups, submarines, and aviation assets were positioned outside Karachi’s harbor to restrict Pakistani maritime forces.
He emphasized that the Indian Navy maintained a ‘deterrent posture’ with full readiness to strike specific targets at sea and on land, including Karachi, at a time of its choosing. This strategy forced Pakistani naval and air units into a defensive stance, primarily remaining within harbors or close to the coast throughout the conflict. Operation Sindoor was a precise 25-minute strike initiated at 1:05 AM on May 7, targeting four terrorist camps in Pakistan and five in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, resulting in the deaths of over 100 terrorists and the disruption of terror infrastructure, as reported by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.
The strike triggered a military response from Pakistan, resulting in a barrage of drones and missiles targeting military sites in Jammu and Kashmir, Rajasthan, and Punjab. This led to air raid sirens and power outages in cities such as Chandigarh, Jaisalmer, and Pathankot. Both nations accused each other of attacking civilian areas, with three civilians injured in a drone strike in Ferozepur, Punjab, and a government official killed in Rajouri, J&K.
Each side also claimed to have downed enemy fighter jets; India reportedly struck a US-made F-16 and a Chinese JF-17, while Pakistan falsely claimed to have hit one of India’s new French Rafales. Over the subsequent three nights, both countries’ air defenses were heavily engaged, intercepting and neutralizing missiles launched by the opposing side. India executed ‘swift and calibrated responses’ targeting Pakistani air bases in Rafiqui, Murid, Chaklala, and Rahim Yar Khan.
The Air Force reported that bases like Sagodha and Bholari, where F-16s and JF-17s were stationed, were also struck, which the Air Marshal estimated to be about 20 percent of the Pakistan Air Force’s infrastructure. Satellite imagery was released to illustrate the damage inflicted on terrorist camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. In retaliation, India stated that Pakistani attacks resulted in ‘limited damage’ to equipment and personnel at air bases in Udhampur (J&K), Pathankot, Adampur (Punjab), and Bhuj (Gujarat). Approximately 100 hours into the conflict, a ceasefire was established last week, facilitated by the administration of US President Donald Trump.
The peace has been maintained since, although Pakistan violated the terms shortly after the announcement. India has cautioned Pakistan that any further violations will provoke a stronger military response. Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi has authorized bases along India’s western borders to initiate counteractions if the ceasefire is breached.
