Operation Sindoor: Decoding MEA's revelations on Day 3

In a detailed update on day three of the ongoing conflict, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Friday (May 9) laid out India’s position on Pakistan’s recent escalations and India's responses. According to the MEA, Pakistan launched a significant offensive overnight, targeting the entire western border shared with India, stretching from Rajasthan and Punjab to Jammu and Kashmir.

Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, Colonel Sofiya Qureshi, and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh stated that Pakistan directed attacks at 36 specific Indian locations, including both military and civilian zones. Despite the scale, the MEA emphasised that Indian air defence systems effectively neutralised around 300 to 400 incoming drones, including both armed and surveillance UAVs.

Drone warfare and countermeasures

"Several of these Turkish-made drones are now under forensic investigation," said the MEA, highlighting the technological challenges India faced overnight. The Pakistani attempts, which combined heavy artillery, missile attacks, and swarm drone tactics, were systematically foiled by India's integrated defence apparatus.

Also read: Operation Sindoor, Day 3 | Indian Army far more astute than Pak forces: Military experts

Indian forces reported minimal damage to military installations but acknowledged some personnel injuries and structural losses in the affected areas. Civilians in border regions like Poonch, Rajouri, Akhnur, Udhampur, Samba, Uri, and Jaisalmer endured heavy artillery fire, marking the highest escalation point since Operation Sindoor began in response to the April 22 Pahalgam attack.

Pakistan's alleged tactics

A striking claim from the MEA was Pakistan's alleged use of civil airliners as shields by keeping civilian airspace between Karachi and Lahore open during the strikes. The MEA condemned this tactic, calling it a dangerous manoeuvre that risks civilian lives for military cover.

Also read: India-Pak conflict: Investors' wealth erodes by Rs 7 lakh cr in 2 days as markets tumble

Pakistan's accusations that India was striking its own religious sites were strongly denied. "There is enough evidence to prove these damages were caused by Pakistani artillery and drones," the MEA asserted, referring to damages reported at a Gurudwara in Poonch and a Carmelite church.

Kartarpur corridor closure

Among other major updates, the Kartarpur corridor — a symbolic religious link between India and Pakistan — has been temporarily suspended due to the security situation. This closure reflects how far the tensions have rippled beyond just military matters into social and cultural spaces.

India has maintained that its military actions have been restrained, focused solely on anti-terror infrastructure, and have left open a window for de-escalation. However, Pakistani attacks on civilian areas and escalatory moves suggest a calculated provocation, according to the MEA.

Call for verified information

Puneet Nicholas Yadav of The Federal cautioned viewers, saying, "Please do not believe everything that is being put out, even on mainstream media or social media platforms, unless and until there is verifiable information." As panic and misinformation surge, the media's responsibility to report only verified facts becomes even more crucial.

The situation remains fluid. While India’s military has so far managed to neutralise threats effectively, the potential for further escalation remains. Both civilian and military watchers await the next moves on both sides, as diplomatic, military, and civilian responses continue to evolve.

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