Major General Karthik C Sheshadri, GOC (General Officer Commanding) of 15 Infantry Division, said that the Indian Army had anticipated Pakistan’s move to target military installations as well as civilians and prestigious establishments here, This included religious places like the Golden Temple, which was the main target according to intelligence inputs.
Major General Sheshadri said that we knew that the Pakistani army did not have any legitimate targets, we anticipated that they would target Indian military installations, civilian targets, including religious places. Of these, the Golden Temple seemed to be the most prominent. We had installed an additional air defence system to protect the Golden Temple.
He said Pakistan launched an air strike using aerial weapons, including drones and long-range missiles, targeting the Golden Temple, which were “thwarted” by the Army troops who were prepared for such situations and attacks. Sheshadri said that in the early morning of 8 May, in total darkness, Pakistan launched a massive airstrike with unmanned aerial weapons, mainly drones and long-range missiles. We were fully prepared as we had anticipated this.
Our brave and vigilant Army Air Defence Gunners foiled the nefarious intentions of Pakistan Army and shot down all the drones and missiles targeted at the Golden Temple and did not allow even a scratch on the sacred Golden Temple. It is noteworthy that for the first time the lights of the Golden Temple were switched off during the mock drill amid India-Pakistan tension.