Operation Sindoor LIVE: India hits back at Lahore defence installations after Pakistan’s missile and drone attack

What Is Operation Sindoor and Why Did India Strike Again?

Operation Sindoor, India‘s ongoing counter-terror military campaign, escalated sharply in the early hours of May 8, 2025, following Pakistan‘s second failed attempt within 24 hours to target Indian military assets. This renewed wave of hostilities was marked by a complex swarm of drones and missile attacks on strategic targets in northern and western India. According to senior defence officials, the Indian armed forces successfully intercepted all incoming threats using its Integrated Counter-Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) and advanced air defence architecture. In response, India launched proportionate counter-strikes aimed at neutralising key Pakistani air defence installations, including a radar system in Lahore.

The Indian government had earlier characterised its May 7 response as measured and non-escalatory. However, this changed following Pakistan’s intensified offensive the following night, which prompted a calibrated response by Indian forces in the same operational domain. The defence ministry has confirmed that India’s retaliatory actions were limited to similar military objectives, maintaining the doctrine of proportionality while sending a firm message that further provocations would be met with decisive consequences.

Which Indian Locations Were Targeted by Pakistan’s Latest Offensive?

On May 8, Pakistan reportedly attempted to strike multiple Indian military installations. The attempted targets included a wide geographic spread of high-value areas: Awantipora, Srinagar, Jammu, Pathankot, Amritsar, Kapurthala, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Adampur, Bhatinda, Chandigarh, Nal, Phalodi, Uttarlai, and Bhuj. These cities house critical military bases, airstrips, and logistics hubs.

The attacks were launched using both drones and missiles, with the intention of overwhelming India’s layered air defence systems. However, officials said that India’s grid-based Counter-UAS and air defence systems successfully engaged and destroyed incoming aerial threats before they could reach their targets. Wreckage from these interceptions is being recovered and catalogued across multiple locations, providing material evidence of the attempted strikes and their origin.

How Did India Respond to Pakistan’s Aggression?

India’s immediate counteraction was a retaliatory strike focused on Pakistani air defence infrastructure. The Ministry of Defence stated that air defence radars and supporting systems at multiple sites within Pakistan were targeted in the early hours of May 8. Among these, a key air defence installation near Lahore was reportedly rendered non-functional.

The Indian response was designed to match the scope and intensity of Pakistan’s actions. Officials reiterated that the strikes were aimed strictly at military assets and conducted within the framework of India’s stated policy of calibrated retaliation. The counter-strikes underscore India’s strategic intent to deter cross-border aggression without escalating into full-scale conflict—unless provoked further.

India’s military and political leadership had warned during a press briefing on May 7 that any additional attempts by Pakistan to strike Indian territory would invite a “suitable response.” With the Pakistani military having crossed this red line, Indian forces acted swiftly to neutralise the threat while preserving the balance of escalation.

What Is the Situation on the Line of Control?

While drone and missile engagements captured national attention, the situation along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir has grown increasingly volatile. Pakistan has escalated unprovoked firing using mortars and heavy-calibre artillery across multiple sectors. Key impact zones include Kupwara, Baramulla, Uri, Poonch, Mendhar, and Rajouri, where shelling from across the border has resulted in civilian casualties.

According to Indian military reports, sixteen civilians have lost their lives in these escalations, including five children and three women. In response, Indian forces engaged in calibrated artillery exchanges to suppress enemy positions and restore calm. Officials confirmed that India had no choice but to return fire in order to halt the ongoing bombardment on populated Indian regions.

How Has India Framed Its Strategic Objectives?

Throughout Operation Sindoor, Indian authorities have emphasised a policy of restraint paired with strategic clarity. The Ministry of Defence has repeatedly underlined that the intent is not to escalate hostilities, but rather to enforce deterrence through precise and proportionate military responses.

Indian defence officials reiterated on May 8 that their objective remains the neutralisation of terror launchpads and military assets being used to plan and coordinate cross-border attacks. Earlier briefings confirmed that India had deliberately refrained from targeting Pakistani military establishments in initial strikes. However, with Pakistan choosing to escalate further through missile and drone strikes, India was compelled to expand its response into military domains, while continuing to avoid civilian infrastructure.

The statement also reinforced India’s willingness to de-escalate if reciprocal restraint is demonstrated by the Pakistani side. This position reflects India’s attempt to maintain operational credibility without inviting broader regional destabilisation.

What Role Has the Political Leadership Played?

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was briefed on the developments following the attempted attacks and subsequent Indian retaliation. Senior defence and national security officials reportedly informed the Prime Minister of the operational details and outcomes of the counter-strikes in Lahore and other Pakistani locations.

While no official statement has been released by the Prime Minister’s Office, the broader political establishment has backed the military’s actions, describing them as necessary to ensure national security. The government’s firm yet proportionate approach has drawn bipartisan support, with opposition leaders largely refraining from criticising the decision to retaliate in the same domain.

The political messaging has remained consistent: India will not initiate escalation but will not tolerate provocation, especially in the form of aerial attacks and civilian-targeted shelling.

What Is the Broader Military and Strategic Context?

India’s integrated defence preparedness, including its Counter-UAS Grid and multi-layered air defence system, was credited with thwarting Pakistan’s complex drone and missile offensive. These technologies, combined with rapid response protocols, allowed India to neutralise a second wave of aggression in under 24 hours.

Strategically, Operation Sindoor represents a shift in how India is responding to asymmetric and hybrid warfare from across the western border. Rather than large-scale mobilisation, India is now relying on targeted air and artillery superiority, precision engagements, and rapid counter-offensive capabilities to neutralise threats. This marks a notable evolution from past full-scale stand-offs, aligning with modern conflict doctrines.

What Happens Next in Operation Sindoor?

With both sides now having engaged in direct military exchanges, including the destruction of a Pakistani air defence installation, regional tensions remain elevated. However, India’s emphasis on non-escalation suggests that further military action will be contingent on Pakistan’s conduct in the coming days.

If Pakistan continues cross-border firing or launches additional missile or drone attacks, further Indian responses may follow. Defence experts believe that the current engagement pattern will persist as a tit-for-tat exchange unless external diplomatic pressure or back-channel talks result in de-escalation.

Observers note that India’s measured but firm posture has helped it maintain international support, while demonstrating resolve in countering terror-linked provocations. The road ahead depends heavily on Pakistan’s decision to either escalate further or seek to diffuse the crisis.