Pakistan's Use Of 300-400 Turkish Drones To 'Misuse Of Civilian Airspace' — Key Takeaways From MEA Briefing

Following the tensions that prevailed at the border regions between India and Pakistan on the intervening night of Thursday and Friday, the Indian government addressed a press briefing to share key details. They pointed out that the Pakistani forces fired 300-400 Turkish made drones last night.

The drones were intercepted using "both kinetic and non-kinetic means", the officials said. India also accused Pakistan of misusing civilian airspace as a shied, as they allowed the movement of carriers despite launching drones in a bid to target Indian military sites.

The Ministry of External Affairs also noted the suspension of the Kartarpur Sahib corridor, following heightened tensions at the western border. The corridor, operational since 2019, allowed Indian Sikh pilgrims visa-free access to Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Pakistan.

Here are the five key takeaways from the joint MEA and armed forces briefing:

• Kartarpur corridor closed: Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri confirmed that the Kartarpur corridor has been shut down amid security concerns until further notice.

• Massive drone intrusion last night: Pakistani forces used 300–400 drones in a bid to infiltrate and target Indian military sites and civilian infrastructure near 36 urban population centres. These included military targets in Amritsar and Bhatinda, according to Colonel Sofiya Qureshi. The drones were intercepted through "kinetic and non-kinetic means".

• Use of Turkey-made drones confirmed: Preliminary forensic analysis indicates that Turkey-manufactured Asisguard Songar drones were used. "The drones and their debris are under analysis," said Col. Qureshi. Indian forces neutralised several UAVs using both kinetic and non-kinetic measures.

• India retaliates: In response to the provocation, India launched armed drones that struck four Pakistani air defence sites last night, destroying at least one radar installation. "Pakistan suffered major losses in retaliatory fire," said Wing Commander Vyomika Singh.

• Civilian airspace misused by Pakistan: Pakistan kept its civil airspace open during the conflict, despite launching missiles and drones. "They used civil airliners as shields," said Wing Commander Singh, calling the move dangerous for international air traffic near the border. In contrast, India had closed its airspace in Punjab to ensure safety.