Armed Forces lay bare how they defended India during Pak attacks, show Chinese-origin missile debris

In the wake of escalating tensions following the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, the Indian Armed Forces have laid bare the scope and scale of their military response to multiple Pakistani offensives. Senior commanders detailed how India thwarted attempted strikes and maintained a firm defensive posture while targeting Pakistani military infrastructure. The presser was held ahead of a hotline conversation between the Director Generals of Military Operations (DGMOs) of India and Pakistan, which had initially been scheduled for noon but was later pushed to the evening.

“Our fight is with terrorists, not the Pakistan military. But it is unfortunate that the Pakistan military has chosen to make this fight their own,” said Air Marshal AK Bharti on Monday, while highlighting India’s integrated and multi-layered air defence (AD) capabilities. These included long-range surface-to-air systems and indigenous platforms such as the Akash missile system, which, he said, performed exceptionally during recent engagements.

“All our military bases and systems continue to remain fully operational and ready to undertake any mission,” Bharti added, confirming that Pakistan’s repeated attempts to breach Indian defences had been effectively neutralised.

During the DGMO briefing, the Indian military displayed the debris of a Pakistani Mirage aircraft. "Numerous waves of drones and unmanned combat aerial vehicles employed by Pakistan were also thwarted by indigenously developed soft and hard kill counter-UAS systems and our well-trained air defence personnel," said Air Marshal AK Bharti. Among the wreckage presented was a likely PL-15 air-to-air missile of Chinese origin, used by Pakistan in the attack, as well as the remains of Turkish-origin YIHA and Songar drones that were shot down.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a high-level security review meeting with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, and all three service chiefs.

Government sources said India launched precision strikes on at least eight Pakistani air bases, including Rafiqui, Murid, Chaklala, Rahim Yar Khan, Sukkur, Chunian, and radar sites at Pasrur and the Sialkot aviation base. The attacks, carried out on May 7, inflicted significant damage on Pakistan’s military infrastructure.

In retaliation, Pakistan attempted multiple strikes on Indian military bases between May 8 and 10. The most severe came on the night of May 9–10. Indian air defences successfully intercepted and neutralised these attempts using an integrated command-and-control network, Bharti confirmed.

Following the heavy counter-offensive, Pakistan reached out through military channels seeking cessation of hostilities. The DGMOs of both nations later agreed to halt all military actions—on land, air, and sea—with immediate effect. The Indian DGMO, Lt Gen Rajiv Ghai, had warned earlier that India would respond “fiercely and punitively” to any repeat violations. He confirmed that the ceasefire agreement would be underpinned by discussions on modalities to ensure its longevity.

India dismissed any role of third-party mediation in reaching the ceasefire, refuting US claims of brokering the talks. According to government sources, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio called EAM S Jaishankar only after Pakistan had sought de-escalation. The final agreement was worked out directly between the DGMOs, and shortly after their conversation, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri formally announced the ceasefire on May 11.

Bharti reiterated that while the intrusions had primarily occurred through air violations and attempts along the LoC, “each of these have been effectively thwarted,” with no breach of the international boundary reported. He said India’s readiness, indigenous capability, and firm resolve were key to its defensive success.