Operation Sindoor exposes Pakistan's faulty air defence backed by ‘China-made HQ-9 system’

India has successfully conducted a significant operation, targeting nine terrorist bases located within Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK) early on Wednesday morning. 

The operation cast a spotlight on perceived deficiencies in Pakistan's defence capabilities, as the Chinese-manufactured HQ-9 missile system failed to intercept India's precision-guided strikes.

Coordinated Attack in Response to Pahalgam Assault

The strikes, launched at approximately 01:44 AM on Wednesday, specifically targeted terrorist organisations Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed. 

These groups were recently implicated in the Pahalgam attack in Anantnag, Jammu and Kashmir, which claimed the lives of 26 individuals, including both civilians and security personnel.

Deeper Strikes into Enemy Territory

The Indian missiles penetrated deeply into adversarial regions, reaching up to 100 kilometres into Bahawalpur and 30 kilometres into Muridke, long considered sanctuaries for these groups.

Despite possessing the HQ-9 air defence system, often compared to Russia's S-300, Pakistan's effort to intercept the strikes was unsuccessful. This has sparked debate regarding the efficacy of Pakistan's reliance on Chinese military hardware.

Meticulous Planning and Indian Strategic Focus

Indian defence officials revealed that the strikes were the result of meticulous planning, with intelligence gathered over several days. The precision targeting was designed to minimise collateral damage while effectively neutralising the terrorist threat, reinforcing India's unwavering stance against cross-border terrorism.

What’s Next?

With escalating border tensions, India has heightened security across 244 districts, alongside implementing civil defence drills. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi reiterated India's resolve to pursue terrorists and their supporters wherever they may be hiding. The focus now shifts to how Pakistan might respond, altering the regional security narrative entirely.