India rejects Pakistan's claim of destroying S-400, calls it “fake, baseless propaganda”

India on Saturday rejected Pakistan's claim that it had destroyed an Indian S-400 air defence system, calling the assertion "false" and "baseless." Wing Commander Vyomika Singh, addressing a press briefing, said, "India unequivocally rejects these false claims being spread by Pakistan." She added that Pakistan is running a “malicious misinformation campaign” with unverified claims about targeting Indian military assets, including airbases in Sirsa and Suratgarh.

To support the rejection, time-stamped images of the Indian Air Force bases in Sirsa and Suratgarh were presented, which reportedly showed no signs of damage. Singh stated that the claim regarding the destruction of the S-400 system, stationed in Adampur, was completely untrue. The Ministry of Defence echoed this stance and confirmed that reports of damage to any S-400 system are “baseless” and “fake news.”

Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri further clarified that Pakistani state agencies have been spreading misinformation. “The claims that they have made about attacking and destroying various military installations in the country are completely false,” Misri said. He specifically denied reports of damage to the Adampur S-400 base, and air stations at Sirsa and Suratgarh.

The Indian Armed Forces launched retaliatory strikes targeting at least four airbases in Pakistan early Saturday morning, following Pakistan’s reported targeting of 26 locations across India. According to official sources, these Indian strikes were conducted immediately after the initial Pakistani attacks. Intermittent firing is still ongoing at several locations along the Line of Control (LoC).

The Ministry of Defence also confirmed the presence of suspected armed drones at 26 locations along the International Border and the LoC. These locations include Baramulla, Srinagar, Avantipora, Nagrota, Jammu, Ferozpur, Pathankot, Fazilka, Lalgarh Jatta, Jaisalmer, Barmer, Bhuj, Kuarbet, and Lakhi Nala. One drone strike in Ferozpur reportedly caused injuries to members of a civilian family. The area has been sanitised, and security forces remain on high alert, tracking and neutralising all aerial threats with counter-drone systems.