Jammu:
Pakistan, hours after its foiled attempt to target 15 Indian cities, launched attack on parts of Jammu and Kashmir in an enormous escalation. While the border areas along the Line of Control and International border — RS Pura, Arnia, Samba, Hiranagar — are under heavy shelling, Jammu, the winter capital of Jammu and Kashmir, is facing air strikes. Eight missiles were shot at RS Pura, Arnia, Samba, Hiranagar, which were all intercepted by the Air Defence Units.
Shortly before 9 pm, loud explosions were heard from Jammu followed by clamour of sirens and a blackout. Cellphone videos sent by locals showed lights streaking across the sky, indicating interception of the missiles and drones by the Air Defence System of the Indian armed forces.
With the activation of the Air Defence System, the sky is lighting up every other minute. On the ground, there is considerable tension. Cellphone services are down in parts of the city — an extra hurdle for locals trying to get in touch with friends and relatives.
The border areas of Jammu and Kashmir is now under complete blackout. Blackout has also been declared in Ferozepur and Gurudaspur in Punjab and parts of Rajasthan, another state that shares border with Pakistan.
Heavy shelling is already in progress at the International Border at Samba, Akhnoor, Rajouri and Reasi.
The attacks come a day after Operation Sindoor, precision strikes on the terror bases in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir following the massive terror attack on tourists in Kashmir’s Pahalgam.
The government and the army have repeatedly underscored that the strikes non-escalatory, precise, controlled and measured.
Pakistan hit back early today with an attempt to target military installations in 15 cities, including Srinagar, Pathankot, Amritsar, Ludhiana, Chandigarh that got foiled by the Indian armed forces.
The military had responded by targeting and neutralising Pakistani Air
Defence Radars and systems in several locations, including Lahore.
Indian forces’ response, the government said, was “in the same domain (and) with the same intensity” as the attacks launched by Pakistan.
“The Indian Armed Forces reiterate their commitment to non-escalation, provided it is respected by the Pakistani military,” the government said in a communique.
