The Pakistani army targeted 36 locations along India’s western border with drones in infiltration operations on the night of May 7 and 8, Colonel Sofiya Qureshi said on Thursday, while addressing a press briefing alongside Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh.

"The Pakistani army violated Indian airspace several times over the entire western border with the intention of targeting military infrastructure," she said, adding, "Around 300 to 400 drones were used to attempt infiltration at 36 locations. The Indian armed forces shot down many of these drones using kinetic and non-kinetic means. The possible purpose of such large-scale aerial intrusions was to test air defence systems and collect intelligence. Forensic investigation of the wreckage of the drones is being done."

She said the drones were likely aimed at targeting Indian military infrastructure, and many were shot down using kinetic and non-kinetic means.

Indian forces shot down Pakistani drones reportedly manufactured in Turkiye, Colonel Sofiya Qureshi added. Qureshi said that Pakistan deliberately chose not to close its airspace, thereby using civilian air traffic as a shield for its unmanned aerial operations.

“During the attack, Pakistan did not close its airspace; it is using civilian air traffic as a shield,” she stated, highlighting a serious breach of international norms regarding military engagement near civilian zones.

Indian armed drones were deployed against four air defence sites in Pakistan following a Pakistani assault, Vyomika Singh stated.

"One of the drones was able to destroy an AD radar," she confirmed. Detailing the escalation, she added, "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."

Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri condemned Pakistan’s drone strikes along the Line of Control (LoC). “During heavy shelling across the LoC in the early morning of 7 May, a shell fired from Pakistan landed just behind the Christ School in Poonch,” he said.