'Pak used civilian planes as shield for drone attacks

PM chairs high-level meeting; forces engage with Pak drones

- BHASWAR KUMAR ARCHIS MOHAN

India on Friday accused Pakistan of using its civil airlines as a "shield" for its massive drone attacks, which it launched for three successive nights, targeting Indian cities and civilian infrastructure in addition to some military targets.

India also said Pakistan was targeting and shelling places of worship, including gurdwaras, convents, and temples "with a particular design", calling it a "new low, even for Pakistan".

Hours after India announced that Pakistan attacked with 300-400 drones of Turkish make on the night of May 8-9-and a number of them were brought down using kinetic and non-kinetic means -Pakistani drones were sighted at 26 locations ranging from Baramulla in the north to Bhuj in the south, along both the international border and the Line of Control (LOC) with Pakistan, said a source in the know. These included suspected armed drones posing potential threats to civilian and military targets.

The source said all such aerial threats were being tracked and engaged using counter-drone systems.

India said its armed forces responded proportionately, adequately, and responsibly, and had targeted four air defence sites in Pakistan on Thursday with armed drones of its own, destroying a radar system. Pakistan also continued to carry out artillery shelling across the Line of Control (LOC), in which the Indian Army suffered some losses.