The Centre said on Friday that Pakistan was using civilian flights as a ‘cover’ and had failed to close its civil airspace, even while launching an attack on India.
“Pakistan’s irresponsible behaviour has again come to the fore. It did not close its civil airspace despite launching a failed, unprovoked drone and missile attack on May 7 at 8:30 p.m.,” Wing Commander Vyomika Singh told the press during a special briefing on Operation Sindoor.
“Pakistan is using a civil airliner as a shield, knowing fully well that its attack on India would elicit a swift air defence response,” she said.
Colonel Sofiya Qureshi also displayed a printout of flight-tracking data from the time of the drone attack.
She explained that Indian airspace was completely devoid of civil air traffic due to the declared closure, whereas civil airlines continued flying along the air route between Karachi and Lahore.
Wing Commander Vyomika Singh added, “The Indian Air Force demonstrated considerable restraint in its response, thus ensuring the safety of international civil carriers.”
She also informed the media that the Pakistani army had violated Indian airspace multiple times across the entire western border, with the intention of targeting military infrastructure. One Pakistani unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) was also directed towards the Bathinda military station, but the attempt was successfully foiled.
In response to Pakistan’s brazen attack, India launched armed drones at four air defence sites, one of which successfully destroyed an AD (air defence) radar system.
Sharing further details about last night’s provocation by Pakistan, the officers said that over 300 to 400 drones were deployed across approximately 36 locations along the border, all of which were successfully neutralised by Indian forces.
-ANI