New Delhi: Pakistan has launched Operation Bunyan un Marsoos against India, targeting military installations in Jammu, Kashmir and Punjab. The offensive involves surface-to-surface missiles and loitering munitions. The operation’s name, drawn from a Quranic verse, means ‘unbreakable wall’.
Initial reports from the ground, however, indicate no major damage. The copy will be updated as confirmed reports come in.
Pakistan’s operations came hours after India struck at least three air bases inside Pakistan. Among these damaged sites is the Pakistan military’s primary logistics hub, the Nur Khan air base in Rawalpindi, which is protected by Chinese air defence systems.
General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, the chief of Pakistan’s military information wing Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR), said in a late-night statement that Indian missiles and drones targeted Pakistan Air Force’s Nur Khan (Chaklala, Rawalpindi district), Murid (Chakwal) and Rafiqui (Shorkot, Jhang district) air bases.
Pakistan Air Force Squadrons stationed at the Nur Khan base are No. 6, 10, 12, and 41, and they operate a host of logistics and other aircraft fleet like the C-130s and IL-78s, besides the Saab Erieye Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) system.
The Murid base is where Pakistan’s drone squadrons are based, including Turkish armed ones such as the Bayraktar TB2.
The Rafiqui base is where Pakistan has certain squadrons of JF-17 and Mirage fighter planes, besides some utility helicopters.
India carried out strikes on Pakistani airbases after it tried to hit the Indian Air Force’s Sirsa air base with a surface-to-surface missile, which was taken down by Indian air defence assets.
Talking about Pakistan’s operation against India, sources in the defence establishment told ThePrint that certain munitions fell near important installations in Srinagar and Jammu, and even some religious places in Jammu. However, there has been no direct hit, with the Indian Air Defence system in full action.
The Indian Army in a post on X said that “Pakistan’s blatant escalation with drone strikes and other munitions continues along our western borders. In one such incident, today at approximately 5 AM. Multiple enemy armed drones were spotted flying over Khasa Cantt, Amritsar. The hostile drones were instantly engaged and destroyed by our air defence units. Pakistan’s blatant attempt to violate India’s sovereignty and endanger civilians is unacceptable. #IndianArmy will thwart enemy designs.”
Pakistan media, meanwhile, continues to claim huge success for its forces against India. But sources that ThePrint spoke to have denied the claims, saying that they “were exaggerated 10x”. IAF officials have also described Pakistan’s claim of hitting the S-400 as “fake news”.
As several conflicting reports continue to emerge, ThePrint is withholding putting out any unverified information.
(Edited by Zoya Bhatti)