Pakistan Air Force Pilot Captured By India After Jet Downed Near Jaisalmer

A Pakistan Air Force pilot has reportedly been captured by Indian security forces after ejecting from his fighter jet over Jaisalmer. The pilot's identity has not been disclosed. As per reports, the pilot was captured by a quick reaction team (QRT) of the Border Security Force (BSF).

Pakistan's second attempt to attack key locations in India in less than 24 hours failed miserably as Indian air defence systems successfully neutralised a swarm of drones and missiles launched at the border states of Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Rajasthan and Gujarat late on Thursday.

Pakistan used the projectiles to target high-value locations like the Jammu airport and an army installation in Udhampur, as well as strategic zones in Akhnoor, Pathankot, Gurdaspur and Jaisalmer. Defence sources told Times Now that the projectiles were swiftly neutralised, with Indian defence systems like the S-400 playing a crucial role. As per reports, two Pakistani drones were shot down near Jammu University. Drones were sighted near Kutch as well.

Soon after the attacks started, several areas in Jammu, Punjab and Rajasthan were blacked out as a security measure. "Complete blackout in Jammu. Loud explosions—bombing, shelling, or missile strikes suspected. Fret not—Mata Vaishno Devi is with us, and so are the valiant Indian Armed Forces," former J&K DGP SP Vaid posted on X.

In response, India launched retaliatory missile strikes on locations in Lahore, Sialkot, Islamabad and Karachi in Pakistan, destroying its air defence radars and one AWACS - airborne warning and control system.

The US had some stern words for Pakistan, with the Secretary of State Marco Rubio reprimanding Islamabad and calling on it to de-escalate immediately. Rubio also spoke with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on the phone soon after Pakistan launched the attacks.

This marks the second such escalation attempt by Pakistan in less than 24 hours. Early Thursday morning, the Indian defence systems had successfully intercepted a similar aerial attack, foiling attempts to target 15 locations in India.

Pakistan tried to hit multiple targets in northern and western India using drones and missiles. As per a PIB statement, Pakistan "attempted to engage a number of military targets in... Awantipura, Srinagar, Jammu, Pathankot, Amritsar, Kapurthala, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Adampur, Bhatinda, Chandigarh, Nal, Phalodi, Uttarlai, and Bhuj, using drones and missiles". Pakistan's attacks come hours after India launched Operation Sindoor which destroyed terror infrastructure in nine locations across the border and in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

Pakistan's fresh attacks were neutralised by India using the Integrated Counter UAS Grid and Air Defence systems. "The debris of these attacks is now being recovered from a number of locations that prove the Pakistani attacks," a statement by PIB said.

As of now, there are no confirmed reports of casualties or infrastructure damage on the Indian side. Security remains on high alert across all affected sectors.

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