India Thwarts Missile and Drone Attacks by Pakistan Targeting Golden Temple, Launches Precision Strikes Under 'Operation Sindoor

 In a major escalation of hostilities, the Indian Army successfully thwarted a Pakistani attempt to strike key locations in Punjab—including the Golden Temple in Amritsar—using drones and long-range missiles. The attacks, which unfolded in early May, were intercepted and neutralised by India’s integrated air defence systems.

In a demonstration held on Monday, the Indian Army showcased how its advanced defence systems, including the AKASH surface-to-air missile system and L-70 Air Defence Guns, effectively neutralised incoming threats. The event was led by Major General Kartik C. Seshadri, General Officer Commanding, 15 Infantry Division, who detailed the events and India’s tactical response.

“Given Pakistan's history of targeting civilian and symbolic sites, we anticipated an attempt to strike both military and civilian installations. Intelligence inputs specifically identified the Golden Temple as a primary target,” said Major General Seshadri.

In response, the Army swiftly deployed additional air defence resources to provide comprehensive coverage around the Golden Temple. “We ensured a holistic air defence umbrella was in place to protect this sacred site,” he added.

On May 8, under the cover of darkness, Pakistan launched a large-scale aerial offensive employing drones and long-range missiles. However, Indian forces, already on high alert, responded with precision. All hostile aerial assets aimed at the Golden Temple were intercepted and destroyed. “Not a single drone or missile touched the Golden Temple. Our air defence gunners acted with courage and precision, safeguarding one of the nation's most revered sites,” Major General Seshadri stated, as reported by ANI.

The attacks came in the aftermath of a terrorist assault on April 22 in Pahalgam, which claimed the lives of 26 individuals, including both domestic and international tourists. In retaliation, India launched ‘Operation Sindoor’, a series of targeted air strikes against terrorist infrastructure across the border.

Major General Seshadri confirmed that nine high-value terror targets were engaged during the operation, with seven of them destroyed solely by the Indian Army. Among the primary targets were known terrorist strongholds in Muridke, near Lahore—home to the Lashkar-e-Taiba headquarters—and Bahawalpur, which houses the Jaish-e-Mohammed headquarters.

“These strikes were executed with absolute precision. We took deliberate care to avoid any Pakistani military or civilian infrastructure, underscoring our commitment to targeting only terror elements,” he said.

India’s air defence network emerged as a key strategic asset during the crisis, intercepting multiple threats, including drones, loitering munitions, micro UAVs, and missiles—further cementing its reputation as a globally capable defensive shield.

The hostilities, which spanned from May 7 to May 10, concluded after both nations reached a mutual understanding to de-escalate. The four-day period saw one of the most intense exchanges of drone and missile warfare in the region in recent years.