New Delhi, May 9: Pakistani drones were sighted in the Jammu, Samba, and Pathankot sectors on Friday, defence sources confirmed. Explosions and red light streaks were reported in the Samba sector of Jammu, indicating that India’s air defence systems had intercepted the drones during a precautionary blackout.

As tensions escalate between India and Pakistan, authorities have enforced widespread blackouts across sensitive regions. These include Akhnoor and Udhampur in Jammu and Kashmir, Ambala and Panchkula in Haryana, Firozpur in Punjab, and Jaisalmer in Rajasthan.

According to sources, Pakistan violated the ceasefire again on Thursday, with the Pakistani army conducting multiple airspace violations and drone incursions during the night of May 7 and 8. The primary targets appeared to be Indian military installations.

In a press briefing on Friday, Colonel Sofiya Qureshi revealed that between 300 to 400 drones were deployed across 36 locations. "On the night of May 7 and 8, the Pakistani army violated Indian airspace several times along the western border to target military infrastructure. They also fired heavy-calibre weapons across the Line of Control," she said.

Colonel Qureshi further stated that Indian forces successfully intercepted many of the drones using both kinetic and non-kinetic measures. Initial forensic analysis indicates that the drones were Turkish-made Asisguard Songar models. “The possible motive behind this large-scale intrusion was to test India’s air defence capabilities and gather intelligence,” she added.

The drone activity follows India’s recently executed Operation Sindoor, a retaliatory strike conducted on Wednesday. During the operation, Indian forces targeted nine terror infrastructure sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir in response to the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam.

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