By The South Asia Times

ISLAMABAD –  — Pakistan’s military said on Thursday it had shot down 25 Israeli-made Harop drones launched by India since the previous night, as hostilities between the two nuclear-armed neighbors continue to escalate, according to Dawn.com

The announcement came a day after Pakistan mourned the deaths of at least 31 civilians killed in overnight airstrikes by Indian forces. Islamabad condemned the attacks as "state terrorism" and accused New Delhi of repeated ceasefire violations along the Line of Control (LoC), the de facto border dividing the disputed Kashmir region.

According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the drones were intercepted using a combination of soft-kill (electronic warfare) and hard-kill (weapons-based) systems. The military said the drone incursions reflect India’s growing desperation following significant Pakistani retaliatory actions.

"After the destruction of its five modern jets, drones, and multiple military posts, and amid reported casualties, India has resorted to using Harop drones in a state of panic," the ISPR said in a statement. "This cowardly action is a clear sign of anxiety and confusion in Indian ranks."

Debris from the destroyed drones has been recovered from various locations in Pakistan’s Punjab and Sindh provinces, the military added, emphasizing that it remains committed to defending national sovereignty and delivering a “befitting response to enemy provocations.”

On Wednesday, Pakistani authorities detailed the extent of the damage from Indian strikes on six locations, including Ahmedpur East, Muridke, Sialkot, and Shakkargarh in Punjab, as well as Muzaffarabad and Kotli in Pakistan-administered Kashmir (Azad Kashmir).

Meanwhile, India’s Ministry of Defence confirmed that its forces had carried out attacks on Pakistani positions early Thursday, reportedly using Harpy drones — a precursor to the Harop — to target air defense systems. Indian media outlet ANI News also reported that these drones were part of a broader strike strategy.

The Harop drone, manufactured by Israel Aerospace Industries, is a loitering munition designed to search for and destroy radar systems by crashing into them.

As military actions continue on both sides, regional and global actors have expressed concern over the risk of full-scale conflict between two nuclear-capable nations.