India Intercepts Pakistani Fatah-II Missile Aimed at Delhi Amid Escalating Tensions
India intercepted a Fatah-II missile fired by Pakistan towards Delhi on Saturday, as tensions between the nuclear-armed neighbours escalated following cross-border strikes and drone attacks.
Indian government sources confirmed that a Fatah-II long-range surface-to-surface missile, fired as part of Pakistan’s “Operation Bunyan ul Marsoos,” was successfully intercepted over Sirsa in Haryana. The missile was reportedly aimed at India’s national capital, Delhi.
The Fatah-II missile has a range of approximately 400 kilometres, capable of striking major Indian urban centres from deep inside Pakistani territory.
In response to ongoing provocations, India carried out coordinated retaliatory strikes early Saturday, targeting major Pakistani cities including Islamabad, Lahore, and Rawalpindi. Three Pakistani Air Force (PAF) installations — Nur Khan Airbase (Rawalpindi), Rafiqi Airbase (Shorkot), and Murid Airbase (Chakwal) — were also hit.
Sources indicated India used air-to-surface missiles and drones to neutralize key enemy targets. Multiple explosions were reported across Pakistan, including two in Rawalpindi and one each in Islamabad and Lahore.
Lt Gen Ahmad Sharif Chaudhry, Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations (DG ISPR), acknowledged Indian strikes on Nur Khan and Rafiqi Airbases. However, he claimed all PAF assets were safe and there were no reported casualties or material damage.
India’s Ministry of Defence has maintained that its operations have been calibrated and targeted at terror infrastructure, not civilian or non-combatant areas.
Pakistan launched drone strikes on 26 locations across Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab, Rajasthan, and Gujarat late Friday. India’s defence forces successfully thwarted these attempts, with all air bases and critical infrastructure reported safe. A family sustained injuries in Punjab’s Ferozpur district, the only known civilian impact so far.
A large-scale blackout was implemented across border states for the second consecutive night as a precautionary measure.
The latest escalation began after a terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir, on April 22 that claimed 26 lives, mostly tourists. In response, India conducted precision strikes on terror launchpads in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
The cycle of retaliation intensified over the week, with Pakistan’s drone attacks on Indian Army bases triggering India’s robust countermeasures.
India remains on high alert. “All aerial threats are being tracked and neutralised. Our forces are on standby for any further escalation,” a defence spokesperson said.
