India's air defence dominates, blocks swarm of Pakistani drones targeting cities from J&K to Guj

Pak used Turkish drones Targeted 26 locations on Friday Pak using civilian planes as shield

- Simontini Bhattacharjee

JAMMU/SRINAGAR: In a continuation of the build-up of cross-border tensions, India and Pakistan clashed with drones and artillery fire on the Line of Control (LoC) and International Border late on Friday evening, in what officials call one of the most serious border battles in recent years. A swarm of drones from Pakistan was spotted in 26 places—from Baramulla in the north to Bhuj in the south—prompting a high-alert alert from Indian security forces.

The Indian Army confirmed that major locations targeted or monitored by drones include Baramulla, Srinagar, Avantipora, Nagrota, Jammu, Ferozpur, Pathankot, Fazilka, Lalgarh Jatta, Jaisalmer, Barmer, Bhuj, Kuarbet, and Lakhi Nala. The Indian Armed Forces are on high alert and using both hard-kill and soft-kill counter-drone systems to identify, track, and neutralise aerial threats.

Of the targeted areas, Ferozpur was hit by a direct drone attack on a residential area, leaving serious injuries to members of a local family. The injured were immediately treated, and the locality was sanitised by security forces. "

India's advanced defence strategy, managed under the Integrated Air Command and Control System (IACCS), deployed long-range surface-to-air missiles, mobile jamming vehicles, Igla MANPADS, and counter-UAV systems. In exposed areas such as Jammu, Samba, Akhnoor, and Pathankot, the Army used L-70 anti-aircraft guns, ZU-23mm guns, and Schilka systems.

Defence personnel said that drones were also intercepted near Srinagar airport and Awantipora air base late Friday. "We are fully equipped to deal with any incoming aerial threat," officials said, noting that surveillance systems were on high alert.