Operation Sindoor: Colonel Sofiya Qureshi says Pak using its civil airliners as shield

Sharing details of the Indian Armed Forces’ counter action to Pakistan violations on Indian soil with heavy artillery, Colonel Sofiya Qureshi said on Friday that Pakistan was learned to be using its civil airliners as shield. Colonel Qureshi was addressing the External Affairs Ministry’s briefing on the latest updates under the Indian Armed Forces’ Operation Sindoor. 

On the intervening night of May 8 and May 9, Pakistani forces indulged in several violations with its clear intent to target Indian military infrastructure, said Colonel Qureshi. 

Pakistan’s military was using heavy calibre weaponry alongside the Line of Control (LoC) with a clear attempt to target 36 locations on Indian soil, which the Indian Armed responded to effectively and responsibly, she said. 

Pak used around 300-400 drones in its attempts to target Indian territory: Colonel Sofiya Qureshi 

Pakistan’s military was using around 300-400 drones in its attempts to target these areas along the international border and the LoC, from Leh to Sir Creek, said Col Qureshi.

The ​Indian Armed Forces used kinetics as well as non-kinetic tools and equipment to neutralise several drones from Pakistan’s fleet, she added. 

The officer also said that Pakistani military used heavy calibre artillery guns and armed drones targeting the areas of Tangdhar, Uri, Poonch, Mendhar, Rajouri, Akhnoor and Udhampur in Jammu and Kashmir.

India-Pakistan Conflict | Pak used Turkish Asisguard Songar drones

The motif behind Pakistani military’s move to deploy such a large fleet was possibly to monitor India’s air defence systems and to gather other secret and sensitive information, said the officer. 

She also said while drone debris is being inspected, initial reports identify the technology used by Pakistan to be Turkish Asisguard Songar drones. 

Colonel Qureshi was joined by Wing Commander Vyomika Singh at the briefing.  

Who is Colonel Sofiya Qureshi?

Colonel Qureshi is a decorated officer of the Indian Army’s Corps of Signals. More on Colonel Sofiya Qureshi

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