Daijiworld Media Network - Amritsar
Amritsar, May 19: In a major revelation, the Indian Army has confirmed that Pakistan attempted to target the revered Golden Temple in Amritsar with drones and missiles on the night of May 7–8. The attack was a retaliatory move following India’s strikes on nine terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir under Operation Sindoor.
Major general Kartik C Seshadri, General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the 15th Infantry Division, stated that Pakistan, having no legitimate military targets, was expected to attack civilian and religious sites. “Knowing that the Pak Army does not have any legitimate targets, we anticipated that they would target Indian military installations and religious places. Of these, the Golden Temple appeared to be the most prominent,” he told.
Anticipating the threat, the Indian Army had mobilised modern air defence assets to protect the Golden Temple. “We provided a holistic air defence umbrella over the Golden Temple,” the officer said.
In the early hours of May 8, Pakistan launched a large-scale aerial offensive using unmanned drones and long-range missiles under the cover of darkness. However, the Indian Army’s alert air defence units intercepted and destroyed all incoming threats. “Our braveheart and alert air defence gunners shot down all drones and missiles aimed at the Golden Temple, preventing even a scratch on the holy site,” Maj Gen Seshadri said.
The Army also held a demonstration of its air defence systems, including the AKASH missile system and L-70 Air Defence Guns, showcasing how they successfully neutralised the threats to Punjab's key cities and sacred sites.
Earlier, the defence ministry had confirmed that multiple Indian cities and military installations—Amritsar, Jammu, Srinagar, Pathankot, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Chandigarh, and Bhuj—were targeted. Explosions were also reported in various parts of Kashmir.
“All incoming aerial threats were neutralised by the Integrated Counter-UAS Grid and Air Defence systems,” the ministry said.
The assault by Pakistan followed India’s Operation Sindoor, a retaliatory military action in response to the April 22 terrorist attack in Pahalgam that killed 26 civilians.