New Delhi / Lahore:
In a dramatic escalation of the India-Pakistan conflict, Indian Armed Forces successfully neutralised Pakistan’s strategic air defence system in Lahore late Tuesday night, using precision-guided Harpy drones. This unprecedented strike marked one of the most significant military actions since tensions between the nuclear-armed neighbours flared earlier this week.
According to senior officials in the Indian Ministry of Defence, the Israeli-made Harpy drones were deployed as part of a calibrated counteroffensive after Pakistan launched a series of missile and drone attacks on Indian cities including Amritsar, Chandigarh, and Srinagar. The drones, designed specifically for Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses (SEAD) missions, homed in on Pakistani radar installations and rendered the Lahore air defence network inoperable.
The operation, carried out in the early hours of May 8, targeted a key radar site near Lahore Cantonment. A senior Indian Air Force official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the strike left Pakistan’s aerial shield over Lahore “blinded,” significantly weakening its ability to track or intercept incoming threats.
The Lahore system was considered one of Pakistan’s most sophisticated multi-layered air defence networks, reportedly integrating Chinese-made HQ-9 missiles and indigenous radar systems. A retired Indian Army brigadier, speaking to NDTV, described its neutralisation as a “game-changing” development in the ongoing standoff.
Indian military officials said the move was a direct response to Pakistan’s earlier barrage of missiles, which targeted civilian and military sites across northern India. A Defence Ministry spokesperson told The Indian Express, “Pakistan crossed a red line with its attacks on our cities. This was a measured but firm reply.”
In Islamabad, Pakistan’s Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) confirmed the attack, stating that “multiple drones targeted our air defence installations in Lahore.” Officials also claimed to have shot down several Indian drones but acknowledged that the main radar hub sustained damage. Addressing the nation on state television, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the Indian strike as an “act of aggression” and warned of “appropriate retaliation.”
The rapid escalation has sparked alarm among global powers. According to The Guardian, the United States, China, and the United Nations have called for immediate de-escalation, urging both sides to exercise restraint and return to the diplomatic table. Analysts from the Council on Foreign Relations have warned that continued strikes could spiral into a wider conflict, with catastrophic consequences for South Asia.
Indian officials have placed their border forces on high alert, while Pakistani military sources told Al Jazeera that reinforcements have been deployed to air defence units in Karachi and Rawalpindi. Meanwhile, residents in both countries are bracing for further hostilities, with flights suspended and curfews imposed in several border districts.
