• Source:JND
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New Delhi: Pakistan is using civilian planes as a shield despite knowing that India will retaliate with its full air force, Colonel Sofiya Qureshi said during a joint press briefing with the Ministry of External Affairs on Friday. 

During the press briefing, Wing Commander Vyomika Singh said, "Pakistan did not close its civil airspace despite it launching a failed unprovoked drone and missile attack on May 7 at 08:30 pm. Pakistan is using a civil airliner as a shield, knowing fully well that its attack on India would elicit a swift air defence response. This is unsafe for unsuspecting civil airliners, including international flights that fly near IB between India and Pakistan. The screenshot we just showed shows the data of the application FlightRadar24 during a high air defence alert situation in the Punjab sector."

Civil flights operating between Karachi and Lahore: Indian military

She added, "As you have seen, the airspace on the Indian side is absolutely devoid of civil air traffic due to our declared closure. However, there are civil airlines flying the air route between Karachi and Lahore. Indian Air Force demonstrated considerable restraint in its response, thus ensuring the safety of international civil carriers. In response to the Pakistani attack, armed drones were launched at four air defence sites in Pakistan. One of the drones was able to destroy an AD radar. Pakistan also carried out artillery shelling across the line of control using heavy-calibre artillery guns and armed drones...which resulted in some losses and injuries to Indian army personnel. Pakistan army also suffered major losses in Indian retaliatory fire."

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Pakistan using Turkish drones

Indian Military on Friday said Pakistan is using Turkish drones in attacks on military installations near 36 urban population centres across Jammu and Kashmir, Rajasthan, and Punjab. During a special joint press briefing of the Ministry of External Affairs, the India Army and Air Force,  Colonel Sofiya Qureshi said Pakistan sent 300-400 drones in 36 locations from Leh to Sir Creek last night to target military installations.

(With inputs from agency)

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