INDIA REPELS PAKISTAN DRONE BLITZ

Swarms of drones and missiles targeting Jammu airport neutralised; bid to bomb parts of Rajasthan, Punjab and J&K blocked; India follows principle of proportionate response

- FAYAZ WANI, HARPREET BAJWA, MAYANK SINGH

TENSIONS between India and Pakistan escalated on Thursday evening after Pakistani drone attacks were reported across parts of Jammu, Punjab and Rajasthan. The Indian air defence system responded swiftly, intercepting multiple drones, triggering air raid sirens and enforcing blackouts in border towns.

India's armed forces followed the principle of proportionate response and negated Pakistan's bid to escalate the conflict. Intense Pakistan shelling from across the border drew a similar response from India.

As the tension ratcheted up in the evening, US secretary of state Marco Rubio spoke to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and called for "immediate de-escalation". He offered "support for direct dialogue between India and Pakistan and encouraged continued efforts to improve communications," US state department said.

Jaishankar said India "will firmly counter any attempts at escalation".