Pakistan Attempted Drone and Missile Attack on Golden Temple in Retaliation for India’s Anti-Terror Strikes: Indian Army

In a major revelation, Major General Kartik C Seshadri, General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the Indian Army’s 15th Infantry Division, disclosed on Monday that Pakistan attempted to target the Golden Temple in Amritsar with drones and missiles on the intervening night of May 7–8. The attempted attack came in response to India’s precision strikes on nine terrorist camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir under Operation Sindoor.

Addressing media, Major General Seshadri said Pakistan, lacking legitimate military targets, was expected to strike civilian and religious sites within India. “Knowing that the Pakistan Army does not have any legitimate targets, we anticipated they would target Indian military installations and civilian places, including religious sites. Among these, the Golden Temple appeared to be the most prominent,” he stated in an interview with ANI.

Anticipating such an offensive, the Indian Army had mobilised additional air defence assets to provide comprehensive protection for the Golden Temple and nearby areas. “We ensured a holistic air defence umbrella cover over the Golden Temple,” Major General Seshadri said.

In the early hours of May 8, Pakistani forces launched a large-scale air assault under the cover of darkness, deploying unmanned aerial vehicles and long-range missiles. However, the Indian Army’s air defence systems, already on high alert, successfully intercepted and destroyed all incoming threats.

“We were fully prepared, having anticipated this move. Our vigilant and brave air defence gunners thwarted the Pakistan Army’s nefarious designs, shooting down all drones and missiles aimed at the Golden Temple, ensuring not even a scratch came upon the holy shrine,” Major General Seshadri added.

Following the incident, the Indian Army conducted a demonstration of its advanced air defence capabilities, including the AKASH missile system and L-70 Air Defence Guns, which played a pivotal role in neutralising the threats.

A statement from the Ministry of Defence confirmed that multiple Indian cities and military installations—including Amritsar, Jammu, Srinagar, Pathankot, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Chandigarh, and Bhuj—were targeted during the overnight assault, with explosions also reported in parts of Kashmir. “These were effectively neutralised by the Integrated Counter-UAS Grid and Air Defence systems,” the statement said.

The retaliatory attacks came in the wake of India’s Operation Sindoor — a coordinated military operation launched in response to the April 22 terrorist attack in Pahalgam that claimed 26 civilian lives.