In a joint briefing, Indian officials debunked Pakistan’s claims of disabling key Indian defences, highlighting a calm yet forceful response under Operation Sindoor.
New Delhi, May 10, 2025 — India has officially confirmed Pakistani strikes on multiple airbases across the country’s northern and western regions, while firmly rejecting claims by Islamabad that these attacks caused significant damage to Indian defence infrastructure.
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At a joint press briefing on Saturday morning, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, Colonel Sofiya Qureshi (Indian Army), and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh (IAF) addressed the media on the ongoing escalation with Pakistan, following India’s military retaliation under Operation Sindoor for the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 civilians.
“The Pakistani campaign is a tissue of lies,” said Foreign Secretary Misri, accusing Islamabad of spreading misinformation regarding alleged destruction of India’s power grid, air defence systems, and military infrastructure. “These claims are categorically false. Normalcy has been restored across most of the impacted areas,” he added.
What India Confirmed
Colonel Qureshi acknowledged that 26 Indian military and civilian sites were targeted overnight by drones, missiles, and loitering munitions launched by Pakistan. These included airbases in Udhampur, Pathankot, Bathinda, Bhuj, and Adampur. One high-speed missile struck the Punjab airbase around 1:40 a.m., she noted.
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Despite some equipment damage and personnel injuries, she stated that most threats were intercepted, with Indian forces utilizing both kinetic intercepts and electronic warfare countermeasures.
“They even targeted schools and health facilities in Srinagar, Avantipora, and Udhampur, which is a grave escalation and a violation of international conventions,” said Colonel Qureshi.
Misinformation Refuted
Wing Commander Singh directly addressed Pakistan’s disinformation campaign, specifically denying that India’s S-400 missile system, or airbases at Sirsa, Suratgarh, and Nagrota were neutralised.
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“These are fabricated claims. Visuals confirm that these bases are operational,” she stated, presenting time-stamped images as evidence.
India’s Response: Operation Sindoor
India’s response was both swift and surgical. As part of Operation Sindoor, precision airstrikes were carried out on Saturday morning targeting:
- Airbases: Rafiqui, Murid, Chaklala, Rahim Yar Khan
- Radar and command infrastructure: Pasrur, Sialkot, Sukkur, Chunia
“These were exclusively military targets, chosen to minimize civilian casualties,” said Colonel Qureshi, reaffirming India’s commitment to measured retaliation.
Explosions in Pakistan and Airspace Shutdown
Powerful explosions were also reported at several Pakistani airbases, including the Nur Khan Air Base near Islamabad. Following these strikes, Pakistan shut down its airspace for all commercial flights.
“While India remains in a high state of operational readiness, our posture remains one of non-escalation— provided Pakistan reciprocates,” Wing Commander Singh emphasized.
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India Pakistan conflict, Operation Sindoor, Indian Air Force, Pakistani drone attacks, Udhampur airbase, Pahalgam attack, Vikram Misri, Sofiya Qureshi, Vyomika Singh, misinformation, OperationSindoor,