Pakistan retaliates, launches 'multiple attacks' on Indian soil – report

Summary

• The Pakistani armed forces launched “multiple attacks” using drones and other munitions along India’s entire western border yesterday night and earlier this morning, Reuters reports.

• However, India says it managed to “neutralise” the attacks.

The Pakistani armed forces launched “multiple attacks” using drones and other munitions along India’s entire western border yesterday night and earlier this morning, according to Reuters today.

“The drone attacks were effectively repulsed and a befitting reply was given to the CFVs (ceasefire violations),” the Indian army said, adding all “nefarious designs” would be responded to with “force”.

The Pakistani government has yet to respond to the Indian army’s comments.

The attacks come after India hit several areas within Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir on May 7, targeting “terrorist infrastructure”.

India said the strikes were in response to a terrorist attack on April 22 that killed 25 in the Pahalgam area of India-administered Kashmir and claimed that no Pakistani military facilities were targeted.

“India has demonstrated considerable restraint in the selection of targets and method of execution.”

Sirens blaring

Reuters reported India’s Border Security Force saying that it foiled a “major infiltration bid” in Kashmir's Samba region last night, with heavy artillery shelling persisting in the Uri area today.

“Several houses caught fire and were damaged in the shelling in the Uri sector… one woman was killed and three people were injured in overnight shelling,” said an official requesting anonymity.

Sirens blared for more than two hours on Friday in India’s border city of Amritsar, which houses the Golden Temple revered by the Sikh community, and residents were asked to remain indoors.

Other border areas also took precautionary measures on Friday, including Bhuj in Gujarat, where authorities said tourist buses had been kept on standby to evacuate residents near the Pakistan border.

Schools and coaching centres were also ordered to close in the desert state of Rajasthan’s Bikaner region, and residents near the Pakistan border said they were asked to move further away and consider moving in with relatives or using accommodation arranged by the government.

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