India-Pakistan military conflict escalates amid strikes and counter strikes; major cricket tournament IPL suspended indefinitely
New Delhi: After India destroyed a military installation in the city of Lahore, Pakistan targeted multiple Indian cities and towns on Thursday night with swarm drone attacks that were repelled by India's air defence systems without causing considerable damage.
In addition to heavy cross border shelling by Pakistani troops from across the international boundary that partially damaged a mosque in the Rajouri sector of India-administered Jammu and Kashmir early on Friday, there were reports of ordnance landing in farms in several places.
A major Indian cricket league, famously called the IPL, was suspended as India team players voiced hesitation to playing while the nation was embroiled in a military conflict. The apex body of Indian cricket, BCCI, said in a statement: "Further updates regarding the new schedule and venues of the tournament will be announced in due course after a comprehensive assessment of the situation in consultation with relevant authorities and stakeholders."
Multiple Pakistani drone strikes were reported inside Indian territory along the international border in the provinces of Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Rajasthan and Gujarat.
India's foreign ministry denied Pakistan had shot down any of its fighter planes. On the contrary, Indian Air Force shot down a Pakistani F-16 and two JF-17 jets inside Pakistani territory, military sources said.
According to the sources, an Indian surface-to-air missile (SAM) shot down the F-16 near the Sargodha air base. The F-16, manufactured by Lockheed Martin, is a key element of Pakistan's air power. The Indian Air Force boasts its Rafale, a vital French addition to its air power muscle.
Jaisalmer, an important city in India's western province of Rajasthan, was targeted by drone attacks while an Indian warship hit two naval bases including one in the Pakistani port city of Karachi.
Photo credit: PIB
