ISLAMABAD — Pakistan’s military announced on Thursday that it had successfully neutralized 25 Israeli-made Harop drones launched by India in recent cross-border operations. The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) reported that the drones were intercepted using a combination of electronic countermeasures and conventional weaponry across various locations, including Lahore, Rawalpindi, Karachi, and Bahawalpur.
The ISPR labeled these drone incursions as a “desperate and panicked response” from India, following Pakistan’s retaliatory actions on May 6 and 7, which resulted in the downing of five Indian fighter jets and multiple military posts. Debris from the Israeli-origin drones is being recovered from various locations within Pakistan.
During a press briefing, Director General of ISPR, Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, confirmed that 12 drones were shot down overnight. He also reported that one drone managed to partially strike a military target near Lahore, injuring four Pakistani Army personnel and causing minimal equipment damage.
The drone strikes follow a recent Indian missile attack that resulted in 31 civilian deaths and 57 injuries across Pakistan. India described the missile strikes as retaliation for an April 22 assault that killed 26 tourists in Kashmir, which it attributes to Pakistan. Pakistan denies involvement in the Kashmir attack and has condemned the missile strikes as acts of terrorism.
In a related development, the National Security Advisers (NSAs) of Pakistan and India have established contact following the recent missile strikes. Pakistani NSA Lieutenant General Asim Munir, who also serves as the Director General of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), spoke with his Indian counterpart Ajit Doval. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar confirmed the communication but did not provide further details.
The ongoing hostilities have led to civilian casualties on both sides, with Pakistan reporting 31 civilian deaths and India reporting 13 fatalities. The escalation has raised concerns of a broader conflict, particularly over the disputed Kashmir region, which has long been a flashpoint between the two nuclear-armed nations.
International calls for de-escalation continue, with global powers urging both nations to exercise restraint and seek diplomatic solutions to prevent further violence.
