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Express Tribune
02-07-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Military notes on Indo-Pak conflict — the conduct of war
The writer is a retired major general and has an interest in International Relations and Political Sociology. He can be reached at tayyarinam@ and tweets @20_Inam Listen to article During last weeks, we discussed perceptual aspects of the recent Indo-Pak standoff, India's doctrinal collapse, deterrence, 'Exterior/ Interior Maneuvers' by both sides, and brief rundown. We continue, but first a brief recap. Ceasefire violations started by India in late April; escalation and military preparations took place between May 1-6. In military operations phase, India on May 7, launched "Operation Sindoor"; and on May 10, IAF attacked eight major Pakistani air bases, including Nur Khan base in Rawalpindi. The same day Pakistan retaliated across India, launching a complex air, missile, drone, space and cyber operation "Bunyan-un-Marsoos". First the missile war. India used 'cruise' missiles, both the BrahMos version (PJ-10 co-developed with Russia) as well as the European SCALP-EG (Storm Shadow) missiles. The French made SCALP is integrated with IAF's French Rafael jets. In BVR (beyond visual range) mode, this missile, without crossing into Pakistan's air space, can reach upto 560 km, and was used in 7th May attack on the 'purported' militant infrastructure, Muridke, etc. Indian military also employed solid-propellant rockets like the Israeli-origin medium-range (250 km) ballistic missile, Crystal Maze (also called Rocks), from Su (Sukhoi)-30 MKI fighter jets in BVR mode. IAF also fired the supersonic air-to-surface Rampage missiles, co-developed with Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), from Su-30 MKI, Jaguar and MiG-29K (Indian Navy-IN) fighter jets. This missile can target up to 250 km. Pakistan retaliated with conventionally-armed short-range Fatah-I and Fatah-II 'ballistic' missiles. A ballistic missile goes up, travels in space and renters the atmosphere heading towards the intended target with great speed, compared to the earth-hugging, relatively low flying and slow speed 'cruise' missile. A standard BrahMos ranges upto 290 km, whereas its extended versions can target upto 450 km, and some up to 800 km. Future hypersonic variants would reach up to 1,500 km. Range is affected by the launchpad i.e ground, air, sea or underwater. Pakistan's Fatah-I, test fired in 2021, ranges upto 140 km, whereas, Fatah-II can reach up to 400 km. India, without evidence, claimed intercepting these. In both countries, the use of missiles with the given ranges can be dangerously escalatory, as most population centres on either side lie within the missiles' arc. The shorter warning because of less flying time can also lead to wrong interpretation of the intentions. Second, the RPV or drone war. For the first time, nuclear-armed neighbours used drones, and used armed drones, in addition to reconnaissance and intelligence-collection roles. In the drone war, Pakistan demonstrated ability to shoot down up to 100 Indian drones. IAF used a mix of decoy drones and Israel-made anti-radiation drones (Harop), Harpy and Heron drones. India employed the Israeli (IAI) made Harop RPVs, earlier combat-tested by Azerbaijan, in Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), as well as 'loitering munition (LM)' mode. Harop can fly for over 6 hours reaching upto 1,000 km. India also used IAI-made Harpy drone with a range of 200 km, as LM. It also employed the long-range IAI Heron (Machatz-1) drone, capable of flying for 52 hours at up to 10.5 km height, depending upon the payload. Pakistani drone offensive comprised some 300-400 Turkish-made Asisguard Songar armed drones, attacking 36 Indian sites, including New Delhi. Pakistan also employed the larger kamikaze drones, the Turkish-origin Yiha-III. Pakistan's repeated drone attacks, especially on night May 7/8, targeted smaller cities in western and northern India. Third, the aerial war. Under Sindoor on 7 May, some 125 Indian and Pakistani fighter jets engaged in aerial dogfight, firing long range missiles in BVR mode. IAF used Su-30 MKI and MiG-29 jets with the cited missile packages, whereas PAF responded with J-10C (Vigorous Dragon) using PL-15E (Thunderbolt-15) missile combos in a confrontation that lasted over an hour. Both air forces remained on respective side of the international border to avoid AD responses, which were already being tested and saturated through drone attacks by both sides. Pakistan downed five Indian aircraft including three Rafaels, one MiG-29, one Su-30MKI and a Heron UAV during this phase, later adding a Mirage-2000, as the sixth IAF loss. PAF's No 15 Squadron (Cobras) flying from Minhas Base, downed the Mirage, that is basically an IN maritime patrol aircraft. The multi-role J-10Cs, flying out of Kamra Base were responsible for Rafael, Su-30 and MiG-29 shooting, using PL-15E in BVR mode. Cobras employed 18 fighter jets during defensive interceptions on May 7. The long-range PL-15 is active radar-guided BVR missile, jointly developed by Pakistan and China, that can reach speeds of up to Mach 5 and range of about 300 km. Fourth, Cyber and Electronic Warfare (EW) and employment of some niche capabilities. Erieye radars connected every J-10C shooter to a single but complex and deadly nervous system. Rafaels were actually ambushed by PL-15s through their AI-guided range, lethality and stealth. Chinese targeting satellites and Saab Erieye AWACS, ensured the 'sensor-fusion kill' never allowing the Rafaels to ever get a lock on J-10Cs. Rafaels fell prey to PAF's electronic chafe or noise. Simply put, Rafaels could not see and when they did, it was already over. PAF, after silencing the sophisticated S-400 AD radar at Adampur in audacious incursions, achieved spectrum supremacy and literally dominated the Indian skies. Yet Pakistan kept attacks limited to military targets and voluntarily restrained from causing more damage to avoid escalation, as the Rafael fleet was grounded, and moved over 300 km away from the J-10C ambushes. Pakistan's May 10 mutli-domain offensive, including cyber, space and AI tools, crippled Indian electricity grids, jammed drones, induced errors in Indian missiles, shot its most modern aircraft and achieved psychological ascendancy. Employment of niche response and hypersonic capability surprised India. It was around May 9, that the US, based upon some unspecified yet 'alarming intelligence' pointing to dangerous escalation, got seriously involved into the peace overtures. But Islamabad on May 9, declined calls for de-escalation due to its planned riposte under Pakistan's 'quid-pro-quo plus' strategy. India's escalatory attacks on civilian population, airbases and some military infrastructure provided more lethality to Pakistan's riposte, deemed equally escalatory by Washington. After Pakistan's offensive response on May 10, both DGMOs established direct military-level communications, effecting ceasefire on May 11. Friendly countries played a role, as Delhi could not stabilise the situation. Continues...
India.com
01-06-2025
- Politics
- India.com
Kangana Ranaut Demands Release Of Social Media Influencer Sharmishta Panoli Amid Controversy Over Remarks Against Pakistan
Mumbai: Actress and Member of Parliament Kangana Ranaut, who was recently seen in the biopic 'Emergency', has called for the release of social media influencer, Sharmishta Panoli. Sharmishta was booked by the Kolkata police after her allegedly controversial remarks against Pakistan. Kangana took to the Stories section of her Instagram, and shared a picture of Sharmishta. She also penned a note, as she said that the social media influencer has tendered an apology, and she should not be bullied by the authorities in West Bengal. She wrote, 'I agree that Sharmistha used some unpleasant words for her expression, but such words most youngsters use these days, she apologised for her statements and that should be enough, no need to bully and harass her further she should be released immediately'. Earlier, in a now deleted video, Sharmishta had criticised Bollywood actors for their silence on the Pahalgam terror attack and India's counter-terror strike, Operation Sindoor. As per media reports, Kolkata police has the FIR against the influencer under sections 196(1) (a) promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, caste, or community, 299 (deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage the religious feelings of any class of citizens), 352 ( intentional insult with the intent to provoke a breach of peace), 353(1)(c) (statements that incite public mischief) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. India had launched Operation Sindoor after the cowardly terror attack, sponsored by Pakistan in Pahalgam where 26 civilians were gunned down in cold blood. Under Operation Sindoor, India attacked the 9 terror sites inside Pakistan. While India's earlier responses to terror attacks in Uri and Pulawama targetted to terrori sites in PoK and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, this time, India hit deep inside Pakistan's Punjab, which is the heartland of its hybrid leadership consisting of civil administration and Army rule. India's actions in Operation Sindoor were measured, precise and non-escalatory. India destroyed military infrastructure including 9 military bases in Pakistan in its response to Pakistan's indiscriminate bombing on civilians in India. While all the projectiles of Pakistan (most of which were developed by China except Fatah-II which also needs a Chinese launch vehicle) were neutralised by India's superior air-defence, India's counter-offensive inflicted deep wounds to Pakistan's leadership.
India.com
19-05-2025
- Politics
- India.com
Pakistan fired Shaheen ballistic missile to attack Delhi, reveals Indian Army. Know its strength and why no debris was found?
From Fatah-II to Shaheen-III... How far can Pakistan's missiles reach Amid recent tensions between India and Pakistan, the Indian Army shared a video revealing some important details. As per the NavBharat Times report, the video shows that Pakistan tried to cause major damage by launching a missile from its Shaheen series. But the key highlight is that India managed to successfully intercept the missile. This may lead to a question: if India really intercepted the Shaheen missile, why hasn't the debris been shown? The answer lies in India's advanced defense strategy. It's not just about stopping threats, but also about how the country handles security and intelligence in a smarter, more strategic way. An official video released by the Indian Army shows that Pakistan used Shaheen ballistic missiles along with Chinese A-100 and Fateh I/II MLRS weapons during the recent conflict. In retaliation, India fired its own Smerch MLRS. To intercept Pakistan's Shaheen and other missiles, India employed both the Russian S-400 air defense system and the indigenous Akash missile system. An analysis of the official video released by the Indian Army shows that during the conflict, Pakistan used several powerful weapons against India, including a missile targeted towards a location in the Indian capital, Delhi.
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First Post
10-05-2025
- Politics
- First Post
Barak 8: India's air defence system that intercepted Pakistan's Fatah-II missile
India's Barak 8 missile defence system reportedly intercepted the Fatah-II missile fired by Pakistan to target Delhi early today (May 10). Jointly developed by India and Israel, the Medium Range Surface to Air Missile (MRSAM) has an operational range of 70-100 km. Here's how it bolsters India's air defence read more India and Pakistan military tensions continue to be on the rise. New Delhi called Islamabad's air intrusion bid last night (May 9) 'escalatory' and 'provocative'. However, the Indian Armed Forces were successful in 'neutralising' the waves of drones launched by the Pakistani military at the Indian border districts. On Saturday (May 10) morning, a drone was downed by India's air defence system at the old airfield in Srinagar as two massive explosions shook the city, officials told PTI. The Indian military also foiled Pakistan's attempt to target Delhi in the early hours today. Islamabad fired the Fatah-II ballistic missile , which was intercepted in Haryana's Sirsa by India's Barak-8 missile defence system. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD India's surface-to-air missile systems – Russian-origin S400 Triumf and Barak 8 MRSAM (Medium Range Surface to Air Missile) – and the indigenous Akash surface-to-air missiles (SAM) have played a key role in thwarting the attacks by Pakistan since it stepped up attacks after New Delhi's Operation Sindoor. We will explain what Barak 8 missiles are and how they are strengthening India's defences during the ongoing tensions with Pakistan. Barak 8 missiles Barak 8 is jointly developed by India and Israel. The Medium Range Surface to Air Missile (MRSAM) has an operational range of 70 km, which can be expanded to 100 km. This version of Barak, meaning 'lightning' in Hebrew, is designed and developed by both the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI). MRSAM has mobile launchers that can be deployed on land or on navy vessels, reported Times of Israel. Weighing 275 kg, the missile can carry a 60-kg warhead which explodes near the target, as per a report by SP's Naval Forces magazine. With a speed up to Mach 2, the missile boasts a dual pulse rocket motor and thrust vector control (TVC). The state-of-the-art weapon is equipped with digital radar, interceptors with modern RF sensors, two-way data link and system-wide connectivity. The defence system's multi-functional surveillance and threat alert radar helps in detection, tracking and guidance of the missile. Israel sold the missile system to India in 2017, and since then, it has undergone multiple trials. It has been inducted into the arsenal of the Indian Navy and the Indian Air Force (IAF). As per the Times of Israel report, the Indian Army carried out successful tests with the Barak 8 missiles last month, intercepting four 'air targets at various speeds, with challenging interception altitudes and ranges.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'The missiles intercepted the aerial targets, scoring direct hits and destroying them, demonstrating the system's operational capability,' the IAI said in a statement. The company said the trials paved the way for the missile defence system to be made operational by the Indian Army. 🔊 on IAI and @DRDO_India successfully test launch the MRSAM air defense system last week at a test range in India 💪 The MRSAM is an advanced path breaking air and missile defense system that provides ultimate protection against a variety of aerial platforms. — Israel Aerospace Industries (@ILAerospaceIAI) January 5, 2021 The Barak-8's 360-degree coverage enables it to target several airborne threats. It can simultaneously engage with multiple targets around the clock in all weather conditions. The missile provides defence against Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) or drones, anti-ship missiles, ballistic missiles, helicopters, aircraft, cruise missiles, and fighter jets, as per a Raksha-Anirveda magazine report. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD MRSAM, which is the second variant of the Barak-8 system, is a land-based missile system, armed with a tracking radar, a command and control system, and mobile launcher systems, the piece noted. How India deployed Barak 8 missiles after Op Sindoor India responded to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that took the lives of 26 people in Kashmir by launching Operation Sindoor, under which it targeted nine terror sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). Since these strikes on May 7, Islamabad has attempted to launch several attacks against India's military installations. The surface-to-air missile systems are acting as a shield against Pakistan's barrage of missile and drone strikes. Besides the Barak-8 missiles, India deployed the S-400 Triumf missile system, Akash and homemade anti-drone equipment to foil Pakistan's bid to target 15 Indian cities on Wednesday night, sources told PTI. The Pakistan military had reportedly launched a swarm of drones and missiles towards the Indian border areas around 1 am on the intervening night of May 7-8. 'The Integrated Counter-Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) Grid, S-400 Triumph systems, Barak-8 missiles, Akash Surface-to-Air Missiles, and DRDO's anti-drone technologies came together seamlessly to create an aerial shield that held firm,' the source said. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The Barak-8 missiles also guarded India's capital by intercepting Pakistan's Fatah-II missile early today in Haryana, News18 reported, citing sources. With inputs from agencies
India.com
10-05-2025
- Politics
- India.com
From Fatah-II to Shaheen-III... How far can Pakistan's missiles reach
From Fatah-II to Shaheen-III... How far can Pakistan's missiles reach Pakistan had last week conducted a successful training launch of the 'Fatah series' surface-to-surface missile with a range of 120 kilometres amid heightened tensions with India following the Pahalgam terror attack. The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the media wing of the army, said in a statement that a 'Fatah Series' was tested as a part of the ongoing exercise 'INDUS'. As tensions between India and Pakistan continue to escalate, Pakistan launched Fatah-II, but India intercepted and destroyed by defence forces over Haryana's Sirsa in the early hours of May 10. Reports suggest the missile may have been intended for Delhi, but India's Barak-8 air defence system neutralised the threat in time. The Fatah-II is just one component of Pakistan's expanding missile inventory. Here's an overview of the key missiles in Pakistan's arsenal, and the reach they offer across South Asia and beyond. Fatah-II: A hypersonic, precision-guided ballistic missile with a strike range of around 400 km, the Fatah-II can hit high-value targets deep inside enemy territory. It can carry conventional payloads or low-yield nuclear warheads. Its design shows similarities to modern battlefield systems such as the US GMLRS or China's PHL-series. Shaheen-III: Pakistan's farthest-reaching missile, the Shaheen-III boasts a range of up to 2,750 km. This surface-to-surface missile can deliver nuclear or conventional warheads that cover not only all of India but also reaching parts of the Middle East. Powered by solid fuel, it allows faster deployment and greater survivability. Ghauri-II: With a range exceeding 2,000 km, the Ghauri-II is an upgraded version of the earlier Ghauri-I. Capable of delivering nuclear or conventional warheads, it is believed to be based on North Korea's Nodong missile design. Babur-3: A strategic asset for underwater deterrence, the Babur-3 is Pakistan's submarine-launched cruise missile (SLCM), with a reach of around 450 km. It offers second-strike nuclear capability and was test-launched from a submerged platform in 2017. Short-Range Missiles Abdali (Hatf-II): Designed for tactical roles, the Abdali is a short-range surface-to-surface missile with a reach of 200-300 km. It can carry conventional or nuclear warheads up to 500 kg. Its inertial guidance improves accuracy over its predecessors. Ghaznavi (Hatf-III): With a strike range of roughly 290-320 km, the Ghaznavi is nuclear-capable and powered by solid fuel for rapid launch. It carries warheads similar in capacity to the Abdali. Nasr (Hatf-IX): A battlefield weapon with a tactical role, the Nasr missile has a short range of 70 km. Its primary role is to deliver low-yield nuclear warheads in close-combat scenarios, providing Pakistan with a deterrent at the tactical level. Cruise and Coastal Missiles Harba: The Harba is a ship-based cruise missile, estimated to have a strike range between 300-450 km. It enhances Pakistan's naval strike capabilities. Zarb: Zarb is a coastal defence missile designed to target enemy vessels approaching Pakistan's shores. Its estimated range falls between 280-300 km. India and Pakistan's missile capabilities have drawn global attention. The latest incidents show not just the destructive potential of these weapons, but also the importance of sophisticated interception systems that can prevent major escalation in real time.
