The Indian Ministry of Defence confirmed that its armed forces targeted air defence radars and systems at multiple locations within Pakistan, with a specific emphasis on Lahore. The strikes were described as "focused, measured, and non-escalatory," aiming to neutralise threats without further inflaming tensions.
Operation Sindoor was initiated in response to the Pahalgam terror attack on 22 April, where 28 civilians, predominantly Hindu tourists, were killed. India attributed the attack to militant groups Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Taiba, which it claims operate from Pakistani territory. The operation involved precision strikes on terrorist infrastructure across nine locations in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir.
In the latest phase of the operation, Indian forces employed Israeli-made HAROP drones to target Pakistan's HQ-9 missile defence systems, developed with Chinese assistance. These drones successfully neutralised the air defence installations in Lahore, significantly impairing Pakistan's aerial defence capabilities in the region.
Pakistan's military responded by claiming it had shot down several Indian drones and inflicted damage on Indian infrastructure. However, India refuted these claims, stating that no aircraft were lost during the operations.
The escalation has had immediate economic repercussions. India's financial markets experienced a downturn, with the rupee falling by 0.8% against the dollar, and key stock indices, the NSE Nifty 50 and BSE Sensex, dropping by 0.5% and 0.4%, respectively. Market volatility surged, reflecting investor anxiety amid the renewed geopolitical tensions.
International reactions have been cautious, with calls for restraint from various global actors. The United Nations has urged both nations to engage in dialogue to de-escalate the situation and avoid further conflict.