Interior minister says Pakistani drones flew over Indian PM Secretariat during conflict

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi on Thursday said the armed forces, intelligence agencies and law enforcement bodies played a key role during “Marka-i-Haq”, Pakistan’s term for a brief conflict with India in April last year.

Addressing a ceremony in Islamabad, Naqvi said Pakistan used drones effectively during the conflict with India, saying they had flown over the office of the Indian Prime Minister’s Secretariat.

He said India first to deploy drones against Pakistan.

He said that unlike India, Pakistan avoided targeting civilian populations and said that more than 100 border posts were hit during hostilities.

The interior minister said that Indian cyberattacks were also successfully neutralised, adding that Rangers and the Frontier Corps also intercepted and destroyed drones along the border.

“Our three armed forces performed exceptionally well. Intelligence agencies played a vital role, and advance information helped secure victory,” Naqvi said, adding that Pakistan received “real-time intelligence as if it were coming from within the country.”

He said that Pakistan’s media acted responsibly during the tensions and that national leadership united the country during a difficult period.

Naqvi added that “the nation stood shoulder to shoulder with the armed forces” and said Pakistan did not conduct covert attacks “like the adversary.”

He also said security forces, including Rangers and other law enforcement agencies, demonstrated professionalism in defending the country against aggression.

He said Pakistan consistently preferred diplomacy to resolve issues with India but was prepared to respond to aggression, adding that India had sent small and medium-sized drones into Pakistani cities, most of which were shot down upon entry.

Naqvi said Indian military leadership had privately acknowledged shortcomings in their capabilities and claimed Pakistan had prior knowledge of India’s operational planning.

He said that Pakistan’s leadership remained unified during the crisis, with both the president and prime minister not seeking shelter in bunkers. He said Pakistan’s media and the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) worked in close coordination to counter misinformation.

The minister also said Pakistan played a facilitating role in Iran–US talks and said Afghanistan was aware of Pakistan’s response posture in case of aggression, noting ongoing security operations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.