Inside The Daring Air Defence System That Saved The Golden Temple From Pakistani Airstrikes
Indian armed forces thwarted Pakistani air assaults targeting the Golden Temple on May 8, using advanced air defence systems to intercept drones and missiles, preventing destruction.
In a series of bold defensive actions, the Indian Armed Forces successfully thwarted multiple air assaults from Pakistan, including drone attacks and long-range missile strikes, targeting key locations in the border states. This swift response prevented significant destruction to civilian infrastructure and religious sites, including the revered Golden Temple in Amritsar.
The Indian Army's air defence units played a critical role in these operations. During a recent demonstration, the Army showcased the effectiveness of its air defence systems, including the AKASH missile system and L-70 Air Defence Guns, which proved instrumental in intercepting and neutralizing airborne threats.
Major General Kartik C Seshadri, GOC (General Officer Commanding) 15 Infantry Division, highlighted the proactive approach taken by the armed forces in response to intelligence suggesting potential attacks on both military and civilian targets, including religious sites.
"Knowing that the Pak Army does not have any legitimate targets, we anticipated that they would target Indian military installations, civilian targets, including religious places. Of these, the Golden Temple appeared to be the most prominent. We mobilised additional modern air defence assets to give a holistic air defence umbrella cover to Golden Temple," Major General Seshadri stated.
He further revealed that on May 8, in the early hours of darkness, the Pakistani military launched a significant air assault using drones and long-range missiles aimed at the Golden Temple. However, the alertness and readiness of Indian air defence personnel ensured that all incoming threats were intercepted and destroyed, preventing any damage to the holy site.
"On 8th May early morning, in the hours of darkness, Pakistan carried out a massive air assault with unmanned aerial weapons, primarily drones and long-range missiles. We were fully prepared since we had anticipated this, and our braveheart and alert army air defence gunners thwarted Pakistan Army's nefarious designs and shot down all drones and missiles targeted at the Golden Temple. Thus, not allowing even a scratch to come on our holy Golden Temple," Seshadri emphasized.
The Major General also discussed the Pahalgam terror attack, which triggered Operation Sindoor, a significant Indian military offensive targeting nine terror camps deep inside Pakistan's territory. These strikes, aimed at hubs like Muridke and Bahawalpur, were executed with "absolute precision" to avoid collateral damage while delivering a strong message against cross-border terrorism.
"Of these (nine) targets, Muridke, which is in proximity to Lahore, houses the Lashkar-e-Tayyaba headquarters and also the Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) headquarters at Bahawalpur, which were struck with absolute precision. Soon after the strikes, we issued a statement clarifying that we intentionally did not target any Pakistani military or civilian infrastructure," he added.
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