A drone was also intercepted and crashed in Malir’s Sharafi Goth area in Karachi, where emergency services responded promptly.
Pakistan Downs 12 Indian Drones Amid Renewed Airspace Violations; Blackouts Ordered in Key Cities. Pakistan successfully thwarted another major Indian incursion attempt into its airspace, downing 12 drones across multiple cities, according to a statement by Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General Lt. Gen. Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry on Thursday.
The Pakistani military responded decisively to drone intrusions reported during the night between May 7 and 8 in cities including Gujranwala, Daharki, Chakwal, Sheikhupura, Gujrat, Rawalpindi, Lahore, Bahawalpur, Mianwali, Chhor, Karachi, and Attock. The coordinated response followed India’s earlier missile attacks that killed 31 civilians and injured 57 across Pakistan.
One of the most tragic incidents occurred in Daharki, Sindh, where a drone explosion near the border killed a local farmer and injured two others. In Chakwal’s Dewalian village, another drone crash was preceded by sirens; no casualties were reported. In Sheikhupura and Gujrat, drones were brought down in open fields and residential areas, causing panic but no loss of life. In Lahore, a drone equipped with explosives was neutralized near the airport, triggering a loud explosion.
A drone was also intercepted and crashed in Malir’s Sharafi Goth area in Karachi, where emergency services responded promptly. Another was reported near Rawalpindi’s Food Street, prompting swift action by police and security forces. In Nankana Sahib, a drone crash in Shahkot injured one person, and security forces are continuing investigations.
The ISPR confirmed that one Indian drone managed to strike a military installation, injuring four personnel and causing minor material damage. Lt. Gen. Ahmed Sharif condemned the repeated drone incursions as “acts of open aggression.”
In response to heightened threats, Pakistan suspended commercial flight routes in Lahore and Sialkot, diverting international traffic, including a flight from Madinah. Civil Aviation sources confirmed the closure of airspace until 12 PM on Thursday.
The situation in India also reflected growing tension, as Amritsar imposed a complete blackout around the Golden Temple complex. Authorities urged residents to remain indoors and switch off exterior lights, heightening fears of further escalation.
Back in Pakistan, the Rawalpindi district administration has ordered a full blackout in all private housing societies from 7 PM tonight until 5 AM tomorrow as a preventive security measure. Citizens have been instructed to avoid unnecessary travel, cover all windows, and turn off porch and street lights.
Military and political leadership in Islamabad have indicated that Pakistan’s response to the aggression is far from over. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, after a National Security Committee meeting, authorized the armed forces to respond at a time and place of their choosing with full capability.
The tense situation has prompted national and international concern over the risk of further escalation in South Asia, as both countries remain on high alert.
