Wing Commander Vyomika Singh reiterated that India doesn't want to escalate the tensions, given Pakistan also reciprocates.
Published May 10, 2025 | 12:53 PM ⚊ Updated May 10, 2025 | 12:53 PM
MEA press briefing on Operation Sindoor.
Synopsis: India has strongly condemned Pakistan’s recent attacks on 26 sites, including air bases and civilian areas, labelling them “provocative and escalatory.” Defence officials reported drone and missile strikes, and exposed Pakistan’s use of misinformation and civilian aircraft as shields. While the Indian forces responded with precision strikes, officials stressed India’s restraint, operational readiness, and commitment to avoiding further escalation.
Pakistan targeted health facilities, schools, and civilian areas in “a condemnable and unprofessional act” on the intervening night of Friday and Saturday — 9 and 10 May — besides trying to create a communal divide in the country, the Government of India said on Saturday.
In a joint media briefing, the Ministry of External Affairs and the Indian Military spoke about Indian civilian casualties in Pakistan’s indiscriminate attack using heavy artillery, drones and mortars. Among those killed was a senior Jammu and Kashmir government official, the Additional District Development Commissioner in Rajouri, Raj Kumar Thappa.
The Indian officers told the media conference that Pakistan’s recent actions—particularly attempts to target air base stations in Punjab over the past three days—are being viewed as “provocative and escalatory.”
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, along with Wing Commander Vyomika Singh and Colonel Sofiya Qureshi, revealed that Pakistan launched attacks on 26 locations within India and had begun mobilising its troops toward forward positions.
“Pakistan Army has continued their aggression on the western front. Using UCAP drones, long range weapons, loitering ammunitions, and fighter jets, they have targeted the Indian army bases,” Colonel Qureshi said.
The officer further noted that the Pakistan Army has continued their offensive on the Line of Control (LoC) using drones and heavy artillery.
“Infiltrating the airspace, they have tried to attack 26 locations, including the international border, the LoC, and from Srinagar to Naliya. However, the Indian defence forces have successfully neutralised most of the missiles. Despite best efforts, the missiles have targeted Udhampur, Pathankot, Adampur and Bhuj air bases causing injuries to the personnel and damaged the equipment.”
Further elaborating, the officer noted, “At 1:40 am, a high speed missile from Pakistan was aimed at the air base station in Punjab. In a condemnable and unprofessional act, Pakistan has targeted the health facilities and school premises at the Srinagar, Udhampur, Avantipur air bases.”
“Despite Pakistan targeting civilian areas, the Indian defence forces have responded in a swift and calibrated manner, targeting Pakistani military targets in Rafiqui, Murid, Chaklala, Rahim Yar Khan, Sukkur, and Chunian, as well as radar sites at Pasrur and Sialkot aviation bases, using air-launched weapons from Indian fighter aircraft.”
Colonel Qureshi reiterated that in the retaliatory attacks, India ensured minimal collateral damage. The officers also screened videos showing Indian army damaging Pakistan assets.
Pakistan used civilian aircrafts flying from Lahore as shields to misuse the international airspaces. Due to which, the Indian Airforce was forced to exercise extreme restraint while carrying out the operations.
The officer further debunked Pakistan’s claims of destroying India’s S-400 system and various other airfields as part of a malicious misinformation campaign. She reiterated that these reports were false and unfounded, aimed at misleading the public.
They also showcased the timestamped photos of Air Force Bases in Sirsa, Suratgadh, further debunking Pakistan’s claims.
Foreign Secretary Misri said, “Claims have been made about large sections of Indian critical infrastructure, power systems, cyber systems, etc, being attacked and destroyed, are completely false.”
He urged people not be mislead by the “tissue of lies” being peddled by the Pakistanis state.
In his concluding remarks, Misri termed the developments “an evolving situation.”
Colonel Qureshi also noted that firing continued across the LoC in Kupwara, Baramullah, Poonch, Rajouri, and Aknoor sectors. “The Indian Army has responded in effective and measured manner, causing extensive damage to the Pakistan army.”
Wing Commander Vyomika Singh said that the Pakistan army is moving towards forward areas, “Indicating an offensive intent to further escalation. Indian armed forces remain in a high state of operational readiness, and all hostile actions have been effectively countered and responded proportionately.”
The officer reiterated that India doesn’t want to escalate the tensions, given Pakistan also reciprocates.
(Edited by Sumavarsha)
