Operation Sindoor LIVE: Blasts in Jammu region; total blackout in Srinagar
Govt says Pakistan launched drones and missiles towards military bases in Jammu, Pathankot and Udhampur, and India successfully foiled attacks
India has said that Pakistan military deployed around 300-400 drones, likely made in Turkey, to unleash an attack on over 25 Indian cities in the intervening night of May 8-9.
At a Ministry of External Affairs press briefing on Friday evening, the government said Pakistan did not close its airspace, and used civilian planes as shields. The govt said Pakistan launched drones and missiles towards military bases in Jammu, Pathankot and Udhampur, and India successfully foiled the attacks.
An armed UAV of Pakistan also attempted to target Bathinda military station, which was quickly detected and neutralised, the govt said.
Earlier, the Border Security Force (BSF) on Friday (May 9) said it has foiled an infiltration bid from across the International Border in Jammu, killing at least seven terrorists and destroying a Pak Rangers' post.
The terrorists were engaged around 11 pm on Thursday in Samba district after a “big group” of theirs was detected by the “surveillance grid”. This infiltration bid was supported by fire from Pakistan Rangers post at Dhandhar, a BSF spokesperson said.
He said the troops neutralised the infiltration bid, killing “at least” seven terrorists and causing “extensive” damage to the Dhandhar post. Officials said there could be more terrorists, who could have been neutralised.
IPL suspended
The Indian Premier League (IPL) was on Friday suspended indefinitely due to the escalating military confrontation between India and Pakistan with a BCCI official saying that continuing the event in the current situation would not look appropriate.
A cloud of uncertainty had loomed over the future of the ongoing edition since the cancellation of Thursday's match between Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals in Dharamsala midway following air raid alerts in neighbouring cities of Jammu and Pathankot.
“It does not look nice that cricket goes on while the country is at war,” a BCCI official told PTI, confirming the suspension of the high-profile league, which was to wind up on May 25 in Kolkata as per the original schedule. Twelve league matches and four knockout games are left to be played.
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Live Updates
- 8 May 2025 8:15 PM IST
Operation Sindoor : Nikki Haley backs India, slams Pakistan on terror
Indian-American Republican leader Nikki Haley on Thursday said that India had “every right” to retaliate and defend itself after the Pahalgam terror attack, asserting that Pakistan does not get to play the "victim".
India launched Operation Sindoor in retaliation for the terror attack in Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir in which 26 civilians were killed.
Under the operation, India struck nine terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir with missiles and drones.
"Terrorists launched an attack that killed dozens of Indian citizens. India had every right to retaliate and defend itself. Pakistan does not get to play the victim. No country gets a pass for supporting terrorist activity," Haley said in a post on X.
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri told reporters in New Delhi that the Indian military carried out a “measured, non-escalatory, proportionate, and responsible” strike to dismantle terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan to “deter and to pre-empt” any further terrorist strikes.
Addressing a packed press conference, Misri said it was deemed essential that the perpetrators and planners of the April 22 attack be brought to justice, as there was “no demonstrable” step from Islamabad to take action against the terror infrastructure on its territory or territory under its control.
Haley is the former governor of South Carolina and served as the US Ambassador to the United Nations during Donald Trump's first presidential term.
8 May 2025 8:00 PM ISTOperation Sindoor: Gujarat on high alert, probe into crashed unidentified drone
Gujarat went into high alert following India’s air strike on Pakistan. There have been sweeping security measures taken since morning. Additional forces have been deployed in all border districts, official sources said. While Rajkot International Airport has been shut for three days, operations at Bhuj, Keshod, Kandla, and Jamnagar airports were suspended until further notice. An investigation has been initiated after an unidentified drone crashed at a border village in Kutch this morning.
- 8 May 2025 6:43 PM IST
Pakistan's Punjab govt shuts all schools till Sunday following Indian strike
Pakistan's Punjab province government on Thursday announced the closure of all educational institutions across the province till Sunday, amid escalating tensions between India and Pakistan.
"All educational institutions -- public and private -- will remain closed till May 11," a Punjab government notification said.
The Maryam Nawaz government has also declared an emergency in all hospitals of the province, allocating 50 per cent of the total beds to meet any emergency in the wake of tensions between India and Pakistan.
“In the light of the ongoing escalation between Pakistan and India, the competent authority is pleased to declare a health emergency in all public sector tertiary/teaching hospitals in Punjab and you are directed to remain on emergency high alert with immediate effect,” the Punjab government said in a directive to the health authorities.
The authorities have been directed to ensure availability of sufficient blood bags, along with an updated list of donors, adequate supplies of medicines, IV fluids, vaccines, surgical/disposables/medical devices and gases.
India launched Operation Sindoor early Wednesday hitting nine terror targets in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and Punjab province in retaliation for the April 22 terror attack that killed 26 people in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam.
