In a significant escalation of hostilities, Pakistan attempted to target the Golden Temple in Amritsar with drones and long-range missiles during the intervening night of May 7–8. The assault was a retaliatory response to India’s military operation – Operation Sindoor – which struck nine terror camps across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir following the April 22 terrorist attack in Pahalgam that killed 26 civilians.
Major General Kartik C Seshadri, General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the Indian Army’s 15th Infantry Division, revealed the attempted strike on Monday, stating that Pakistan, lacking legitimate military targets, was expected to target Indian civilian and religious sites.
“Knowing that the Pakistan Army does not have any legitimate military objectives, we anticipated they would focus on civilian and religious locations,” Major General Seshadri said in an interview with ANI. “Among them, the Golden Temple was identified as the most prominent potential target.”
In anticipation of such an attack, the Indian Army deployed advanced air defence systems to shield the sacred site. “We mobilised additional modern air defence assets to create a comprehensive protective umbrella over the Golden Temple,” he added.
The attack occurred in the early hours of May 8, under the cover of darkness. According to the Army officer, Pakistan launched a large-scale aerial offensive using unmanned aerial systems and long-range missiles. However, Indian forces were fully prepared and successfully intercepted all incoming threats.
“Our alert and valiant air defence gunners thwarted Pakistan’s nefarious plans. Every drone and missile aimed at the Golden Temple was shot down, ensuring that not even a scratch came upon the holy shrine,” said Major General Seshadri.
Following the incident, the Army conducted a demonstration showcasing the capabilities of its integrated air defence systems, including the AKASH missile system and L-70 Air Defence Guns, which were used to neutralise the airborne threats.
A statement from the Ministry of Defence confirmed that multiple Indian cities and military installations—Amritsar, Jammu, Srinagar, Pathankot, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Chandigarh, and Bhuj—were targeted in the overnight assault. Explosions were also reported across Kashmir.
“These attacks were effectively neutralised by the Integrated Counter-UAS Grid and Air Defence systems,” the ministry stated.
Operation Sindoor, which triggered the Pakistani assault, was a coordinated Indian military strike on terror camps in response to the deadly terrorist attack in Pahalgam.
