New Delhi, May 8, 2025 — In a high-stakes military confrontation, India successfully intercepted a massive missile barrage from Pakistan that was aimed at 15 of India’s most populated and strategically significant cities. The attempted attack marked one of the gravest escalations between the two nations in recent years.
Indian defence forces were placed on red alert following actionable intelligence about imminent launches. According to senior defence officials, Pakistan’s military had prepared a coordinated missile salvo meant to overwhelm India’s air defences. However, India’s multi-layered defensive grid — involving the S-400, Iron Dome-type quick-response systems, and advanced early warning radars — thwarted the attack with zero civilian casualties.
“This was a full-spectrum defensive success,” said Lt. Gen. Sameer Rawat, Deputy Chief of Army Staff. “Not one missile breached our layered shield. Every threat was neutralised with precision.”
The missiles, reportedly Ghaznavi and Shaheen variants, were launched from facilities in Gilgit-Baltistan and southern Punjab. Some of the payloads were intercepted above Indian-administered Kashmir, while others were destroyed as they crossed into Indian airspace.
India responded swiftly and strategically. Under Operation Agni Rekha, Indian Air Force units carried out surgical retaliatory strikes. Using satellite-guided munitions and drone-assisted targeting, Indian aircraft struck key Pakistani air defence nodes, including radar systems, mobile SAM units, and communication jammers.
The Pakistani military has acknowledged partial damage to its systems but downplayed the impact. Indian sources, however, assert that Pakistan’s forward air-defence capability has been reduced by at least 60%.
Global reaction was swift, with calls for calm from the UN Security Council and major world capitals. As diplomats scramble to de-escalate the crisis, the success of India’s operation is being viewed as a deterrent and a message of readiness to defend national interests decisively.