0
• ISPR chief maintains no cross-border activity from Pakistan’s side, refutes reports of contact between national security advisers on both sides
• Says not a single Pakistani soldier martyred so far; tells New Delhi ‘we will finish what you started’
• PAF official says 42 jets deployed to counter over 70 Indian craft on May 7, shares locations of downed planes
• In late-night development, military accuses India of firing ballistic missiles at own territory
ISLAMABAD: The military on Friday warned of an unpredictable escalation in the ongoing tensions with India, following an unprecedented series of cross-border incidents that began with an Indian aerial assault on Pakistani territory, earlier this week.
“The escalation ladder is always unpredictable,” said military spokesman Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry.
“Could any of us have predicted that the Indians would launch a phantom defence last night and start claiming that Pakistan has attacked India at 15 locations?”
Speaking at a media briefing at Inter-Services Public Relations, Gen Chaudhry described the Indian drone swarm against Pakistan as “another dangerous escalation.” He said Pakistani defences had neutralised 77 drones through both “hard kill and soft kill” methods.
“They thought these very sophisticated, low cross-section drones could come and create havoc,” the spokesman said. “We are vigilant, and we will not let anyone target our territorial integrity and sovereignty — not at all.”
He also revealed that four long-range projectiles were fired on the night of May 7-8, with one missile crossing into Pakistani airspace before being intercepted near Dinga.
The DG ISPR has said that 33 people had lost their lives and 76 sustained injuries in Indian attacks so far.
However, he maintained that not a single Pakistani soldier has been martyred in combat casualties until now.
“They want to set a new normal — one that suits their convenience,” said Lt-Gen Chaudhry said explaining the broader Indian intent behind this escalation. “Let it be clear: we have every right to take whatever action is necessary to protect the honour, integrity, and sovereignty of the people of Pakistan.”
Rejecting New Delhi’s claims that Pakistan had attacked 15 locations in India, the ISPR chief insisted there was no cross-border activity from the Pakistani side.
“If we had sent anything, it would leave an electronic signature,” he said. “We have all the records of our airspace — time-stamped and verified. When we will attack, we won’t need Indian TV channels to report it.”
Air Vice Marshal (AVM) Aurangzeb Ahmed , the deputy chief of operations of Pakistan Air Force, also briefed reporters, describing the air engagement of May 6-7 as a textbook case of modern aerial warfare. He said Pakistan had tracked over 70 Indian aircraft — including 14 Rafales — using its Electromagnetic Operational Environment and responded with a concentrated and pre-planned defensive counter-air strategy.
“Our side deployed 42 high-tech aircraft,” AVM Ahmed said. He noted that while India remained on its side of the border and launched air-to-ground weapons, Pakistani defenses detected and engaged the threats instantly.
AVM Ahmed said the encounter marked the first time in aviation history that over 100 Beyond Visual Range missiles were exchanged in a single engagement. “This is going to be taught as a textbook case and reference material in the history of aerial combat.”
“Initially, we were given Rules of Engagement with the primary goal to deter. But once this situation unfolded, we shifted our strategy in the air from ‘Deter’ to ‘Assure Kill, Deny Own Loss’. The strategy changed during the exchange — and we executed the plan,” he maintained.
The AVM shared the locations where five Indian jets were downed — four along the LoC and one near Bathinda in northwest of India. He disclosed that one of the Indian jets was downed by Pakistani air defense systems.
Addressing concerns over Indian drones penetrating deep into Pakistan, AVM Ahmed explained that drone neutralisation depends on their flight phase. “If a soft kill fails to neutralise or disable the target, we then resort to a hard kill — taking it down physically.”
He also denied any direct contact between the national security advisers of the two countries following India’s May 7 assault.
“As far as reports of direct communication between the Indian NSA and Pakistan NSA, no such direct contact has been made,” he said, adding that the Foreign Office was dealing with diplomatic efforts.
He urged the international community to intervene. “Put some sense into these people who have this hubristic mindset,” he said. “(Tell Indians) don’t try to act like a regional hegemon... Respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of other states.”
The ISPR DG concluded with a stern warning: “Whatever they may do, we are prepared for any eventuality. They want to continue it? Fine. But what they have started — we’ll finish it.”
Later, in a brief press statement in the early hours of Saturday, the DG ISPR accused India of firing at least six ballistic missiles on its own population in Indian Punjab, saying that the move defied sanity and good sense.
“India is targeting through its schemes, populations of Sikhs in Indian Punjab. All our sympathies are with Sikhs and minorities who are falling victim to its (India’s) own internal conspiracies.
“This is a shocking development and provocation of the highest order, where India has now started firing ballistic missiles at its own population, which doesn’t make any sort of sense,” he said.
Published in Dawn, May 10th, 2025
