Pakistan's unprovoked aggression was to test Indian air defence system and gather intelligence: MEA

The MEA contingent briefing the nation.

Addressing the nation a day after Pakistan launched multiple  aerial attacks across several key border cities, the Ministry of External Affairs said that the main aim of the aggression in the intervening night of May 8-9 was to test Indian air defence system and gather intelligence.

Col. Sofiya Qureshi and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh reiterated that Pakistan's misadventure was met with equal response by Indian air defence system thereby neutralising the aerial invasions. The continent also mentioned that Islamabad is clearly using their civil airspace as a shield. Singh went on to add that the non closing of Pakistan airspace poses a danger to unsuspecting civil airliners, including international flights flying near the International Border (IB) between India and Pakistan.

"The screenshot we showed displays the data from the Flight Radar 24 application during a high air defence alert situation in the Punjab sector. As you can see, the airspace on the Indian side is completely devoid of civil air traffic due to our declared closure. However, civil airlines continue to fly the route between Karachi and Lahore," she added.

"Pakistan did not close its civil airspace despite it launching a failed unprovoked drone and missile attack on 7 May at 08:30 hours in the evening. Pakistan is using civil airliner as a shield, knowing fully well that its attack on India would elicit a swift air defence response. This is not safe for the unsuspecting civil airliners including the international flights which were flying near IB between India and Pakistan, " remarked Col. Sofia Qureshi.

India successfully intercepted at least 600 drones on the intervening night of May 8-9 at more than 30 locations across several cities, as Islamabad launched simultaneous drone attacks.

The MEA contingent categorically stated: "On the intervening night of May 8 and 9, the Pakistani army violated Indian airspace multiple times along the entire western border, aiming to target military infrastructure. Additionally, the Pakistani army fired heavy-caliber weapons along the Line of Control. Around 300 to 400 drones were deployed in attempts to infiltrate 36 locations. The Indian armed forces successfully shot down many of these drones using both kinetic and non-kinetic methods. The likely purpose of these large-scale aerial incursions was to test air defence systems and gather intelligence. Forensic analysis of the drone wreckage is underway. Initial findings suggest they are Turkish Asisguard Songar drones..."

Commenting on Islamabad's continued denial of its attempt to target key installations in India, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said: "Pak's farcical denial of its attempts to target installations in India is another example of its duplicity."