Operation Sindoor 2.0: India targets Pakistani air defence units in Lahore and Sialkot after drone attacks

Operation Sindoor 2.0 continued on May 8, 2025, as India executed precision airstrikes targeting key air defence infrastructure of the Pakistan Army in Lahore and Sialkot. The retaliatory military operation was carried out following Pakistan’s coordinated drone and missile offensive across multiple Indian cities the previous night, which was intercepted and repelled by India’s air defence grid. The Indian Ministry of Defence confirmed the strikes as part of a proportionate military response in the same operational domain, signalling a significant escalation in bilateral hostilities.

What Prompted India’s Retaliatory Strike Under Operation Sindoor 2.0?

According to the Ministry of Defence, India’s response was prompted by a large-scale aerial offensive initiated by Pakistan during the night of May 7–8. Pakistani forces attempted to deploy drones and missiles against strategic locations across northern and western India, including urban centres and military installations in Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Rajasthan, and Gujarat. Indian airspace over cities such as Srinagar, Jammu, Pathankot, Amritsar, Ludhiana, Adampur, and Bhuj came under attempted incursions which were successfully neutralised by India’s multi-layered defence systems.

The Indian Armed Forces deployed the Integrated Counter-UAS Grid, which is supported by the Russian-built S-400 Triumf missile defence system, to intercept and destroy aerial threats. The Ministry confirmed that no Indian infrastructure or civilian casualties occurred due to these attacks.

How Did India Target Pakistan’s Air Defence Systems?

Following the attempted drone and missile incursion, India launched targeted strikes against Pakistan’s air defence assets. According to defence officials, strikes were focused on radar and surface-to-air missile installations near Sialkot and Lahore, both of which are located close to the India-Pakistan border and are critical to Pakistan’s defensive posture in Punjab province.

In Lahore, India reportedly neutralised one of Pakistan’s advanced air defence systems, significantly degrading its aerial situational awareness and deterrent capabilities. In Sialkot, multiple installations were hit, disabling key radar sites and surveillance equipment. The Ministry of Defence described these retaliatory strikes as “same domain, same intensity,” aligning with India’s strategic policy of proportional escalation in response to direct provocations.

Where Did Pakistan Launch Its Drone and Missile Attacks?

The Defence Ministry outlined that the Pakistani offensive targeted a wide range of Indian cities and towns across Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Rajasthan, and Gujarat. Among the most prominent locations listed were Awantipura, Srinagar, Jammu, Pathankot, Amritsar, Kapurthala, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Adampur, Bathinda, Chandigarh, Nal, Phalodi, Uttarlai, and Bhuj.

India’s air defence network, particularly the S-400 systems, played a central role in intercepting these threats. With detection capabilities reaching up to 600 kilometres and the ability to simultaneously engage multiple aerial targets, the S-400 system helped prevent any material damage or casualties.

What Role Did the S-400 Triumf Systems Play in India’s Defence?

The Russian-manufactured S-400 Triumf air defence missile system has become a cornerstone of India’s airspace security, particularly along volatile border regions. In this incident, the S-400’s long-range radar and missile batteries were mobilised as part of the Integrated Counter-UAS Grid to defend against Pakistani drones and missiles.

The successful interception of these aerial threats underlines the strategic value of the S-400 platform in India’s military arsenal. These systems are capable of engaging a wide range of targets, including ballistic missiles, stealth aircraft, and UAVs, and are deployed at multiple locations across northern India for maximum coverage.

How Did the US React to India’s Retaliatory Action in Lahore?

In the aftermath of India’s airstrikes, the United States Consulate General in Lahore issued an emergency advisory instructing personnel to shelter-in-place. The advisory cited reports of drone explosions, downed aerial systems, and potential airspace incursions as reasons for the heightened security posture.

The US Mission in Pakistan cautioned American citizens in Lahore to remain indoors unless evacuation could be conducted safely. Contact assistance was also made available for US nationals affected by the regional conflict. The development underscores growing international concern over the escalating hostilities and the risk of civilian exposure in contested zones.

Has Pakistan Escalated Ground Shelling Along the Line of Control?

In parallel with aerial hostilities, the Defence Ministry confirmed that Pakistan has increased shelling across the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir. Mortars and heavy artillery have been used to target both civilian and military areas across key sectors including Kupwara, Baramulla, Uri, Poonch, Mendhar, and Rajouri.

These actions represent a broader multi-domain offensive by Pakistan, aimed at pressuring India across both air and ground theatres. India’s retaliation, according to the Ministry, is designed not only to neutralise immediate threats but also to degrade Pakistan’s ability to continue offensive operations.

What Is the Strategic Significance of Targeting Air Defence Units?

The decision to strike Pakistan’s air defence systems is strategically significant. By impairing radar installations and missile defence networks in Lahore and Sialkot, India seeks to undermine Pakistan’s ability to detect and respond to future aerial operations. It signals a doctrinal shift in India’s response matrix — from reactive border management to proactive targeting of critical military infrastructure across the border.

This mirrors similar patterns seen during the 2019 Balakot airstrikes, when India targeted terror camps deep inside Pakistani territory following the Pulwama terror attack. However, Operation Sindoor 2.0 goes a step further by striking state-controlled military infrastructure, marking a new threshold in Indo-Pakistani confrontation.

What Comes Next Amid Rising Tensions?

With both nations exchanging cross-border fire and conducting military operations across air and land domains, regional tensions remain at elevated levels. Diplomatic responses are awaited from global actors including the United Nations, China, and Russia, though the immediate focus remains on damage containment and escalation control.

There has been no official statement from Pakistan’s Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) as of the time of writing, though unverified social media footage suggests damage to military sites in the targeted regions. India’s Ministry of External Affairs has not commented beyond the Defence Ministry’s operational brief.

Despite the successful neutralisation of threats, Indian authorities have maintained a high alert across border states and major urban centres, with military readiness elevated in response to any potential second wave of strikes.