India-Pakistan Escalation: Retaliatory Strikes Hit Major Pakistani Cities Amid Rising Cross-Border Tensions

 New Delhi/Islamabad — Tensions between India and Pakistan intensified sharply as the Indian armed forces conducted a series of high-precision retaliatory strikes late Friday night, targeting key Pakistani military assets in response to ongoing ceasefire violations and drone incursions.

According to defence sources, Indian forces struck strategic military locations in Islamabad, Rawalpindi, and Lahore using air-to-surface missiles and combat drones. Notably, three high-value air bases in Pakistan, along with forward posts in Sialkot and Narowal, were hit. Intelligence inputs indicate that Pakistan suffered the loss of critical air assets, with several aircraft reportedly disabled before they could be mobilized. However, the Pakistan Army has publicly denied any casualties or material losses from the strikes.

The escalation follows a renewed wave of aggression from Pakistan, which on Friday launched drone attacks targeting 26 locations across India—from Jammu & Kashmir down to Gujarat. Indian air defence systems successfully neutralized the threat, although debris from one intercepted drone injured three civilians in Punjab’s Ferozpur district. The injured, all members of the same family, were transported to a private hospital and are reported to be in stable condition.

The current exchange of fire comes on the heels of a large-scale drone offensive by Pakistan on Thursday, involving between 300 and 400 Turkish-origin drones aimed at 36 sites across northern and western India. The attacks followed India's precision strikes on terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), carried out in the wake of the Pahalgam massacre.

Under Operation Sindoor, Indian forces targeted nine known terror hubs—including Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed facilities—in a coordinated 25-minute offensive that reaffirmed New Delhi’s commitment to eradicating cross-border terrorism. In a significant operational milestone, Indian forces also shot down a Pakistani F-16 fighter jet over Rajasthan during Thursday’s engagement.

India’s latest counteroffensive has drawn global attention to the region, with foreign observers closely monitoring the escalating conflict. New Delhi has consistently emphasized that its military actions are measured and directed exclusively at terror-related infrastructure, maintaining that it reserves the right to respond proportionately to any further provocations.

As of Saturday morning, Pakistan has temporarily closed its airspace, and military and diplomatic channels remain on high alert. The situation remains fluid, with further developments expected in the coming hours.