Amid rising tensions between India and Pakistan, the Indian Army successfully intercepted a massive aerial attack by Pakistan aimed at the Golden Temple in Amritsar. The attack that took place in the early hours of May 8 involved both drones and long-range missiles that were thwarted by India's strong air defence systems. The threatened attack followed India's retaliatory strike. India carried out Operation Sindoor, targeting nine major terror camps deep within Pakistani territories, including known bases of Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed.

Major terror bases such as Muridke, close to Lahore (Lashkar-e-Taiba headquarters), and Bahawalpur (Jaish-e-Mohammed HQ) were among the targets that were struck with what the Army termed as "absolute precision. “In retaliation to Pakistan’s state-sponsored terror attack in Pahalgam, India executed targeted strikes on nine terror camps, seven of which were destroyed solely by the Indian Army,” Major General Seshadri said this to ANI. "We targeted only exclusive terror camps. It was a measured and legitimate response, not a provocative one," he added.

Golden Temple Targeted, Saved By Indian Army's Action

In an interview with ANI, Major General Kartik C Seshadri, General Officer Commanding (GOC), 15 Infantry Division, confirmed that the Golden Temple was one of the main targets of Pakistan's air attack.

“Knowing that the Pakistan Army had no legitimate targets, we anticipated attacks on military installations and sensitive civilian and religious sites. Intelligence inputs indicated the Golden Temple could be their prime focus,” said Major General Seshadri. He further said, “In the dark hours of May 8, Pakistan launched an air assault using drones and long-range missiles aimed directly at the Golden Temple. Thanks to our proactive strategy and modernised air defence deployment, not a single aerial threat breached our protective umbrella.”

To neutralise the expected attack, the Indian Army deployed its most sophisticated air defence systems, such as the Akash Surface-to-Air Missile System, L-70 air defence guns, and counter-drone measures. “The Indian Army created a layered air defence shield to safeguard key infrastructure and holy sites in Punjab. Our alert air defence gunners neutralised all threats mid-air, preventing even a scratch from reaching the Golden Temple,” said the Major General.

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With increased drone and missile threats around the world, India's success in repelling the Pakistani air attack is being cited as an exemplar of contemporary air defence warfare. In an address to the nation on May 12, Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed the success of Operation Sindoor, emphasising the unprecedented role played by Made-in-India weapons in neutralising terror threats across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). He said, “India's strike was measured, precise, and built on the strength of our innovations.” “Made In India weapons are defending the nation, they are setting global benchmarks in new age warfare,” he added.

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