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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- 8 May 2025 9:53 AM IST
Pak's top security body authorises army to avenge Indian strikes
Pakistan's top security body on Wednesday said the armed forces have been duly authorised to undertake retaliation "at a time, place, and manner of its choosing" to avenge the loss of lives in the Indian military strikes.
Pakistan Army spokesman Lt Gen Ahmad Sharif Chaudhry said at least 26 people were killed and 46 injured in the missile strikes launched shortly after midnight on cities in the Punjab province and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).
Jaish-e-Mohammad chief Maulana Masood Azhar's 10 family members and four close aides were killed in the attack on the outfit's headquarters in Bahawalpur.
A hurriedly called National Security Council meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and attended by cabinet ministers, chief ministers, all services chiefs and senior officers, described the strikes as "unprovoked” and an “unlawful act of war".
An NSC statement warned that in consonance with Article 51 of the UN Charter, Pakistan reserves the right to respond, in self-defence, “at a time, place, and manner of its choosing” to avenge the loss of innocent Pakistani lives in the Indian strikes.
- 8 May 2025 9:33 AM IST
Watching situation very closely: top US army general after Op Sindoor
A top American military commander has said that the US is “watching the situation very closely” after Indian military strikes on terror targets in PoK and Pakistan's Punjab province.
India launched Operation Sindoor early Wednesday, hitting nine terror targets in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and Pakistan's Punjab province in retaliation for the April 22 terror attack that killed 26 people in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam.
“It’s right now too early to opine on any of that. We’re watching the situation very closely. We’re nested with our higher headquarters and USINDOPACOM as the information about these strikes becomes more clear,” US Army Pacific Commanding General, General Ronald Clark said during a digital press briefing Wednesday.
The United States Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM) is one of six geographic Unified Combatant Commands of the United States Armed Forces, headquartered in Hawaii.
Clark was responding to a question on the US view of the developing situation after the strikes by India.
Earlier on Wednesday, US President Donald Trump said he wants India and Pakistan to “stop” the conflict, saying if he can do anything to “help”, he will be there.
“Oh it’s so terrible. My position is I get along with both. I know both very well and I want to see them work it out. I want to see them stop and hopefully they can stop now. They have gone tit for tat, so hopefully they can stop now. I know both, we get along with both the countries very well.
“Good relationships with both and I want to see it stop. And If I can do anything to help, I will be there,” Trump said in response to a question on the “war” between India and Pakistan.
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri told reporters in New Delhi on Wednesday 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 on territory under its control.
- 8 May 2025 9:31 AM IST
Schools shut across six border districts in Punjab following Operation Sindoor
Amid soaring tension between India and Pakistan, all schools in six border districts of Punjab remained shut on Thursday, officials said.
The schools were closed in Ferozepur, Pathankot, Fazilka, Amritsar, Gurdaspur and Tarn Taran districts, they said.
Tensions escalated after Indian armed forces early Wednesday carried out missile strikes on nine terror targets in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), including the Jaish-e-Mohammad stronghold of Bahawalpur and Lashkar-e-Taiba's base in Muridke, in retaliation for the April 22 terror attack in Kashmir's Pahalgam.
The Tarn Taran deputy commissioner issued an order that said all schools in the district will remain closed from May 8 till 11.
In Ferozepur, the authorities ordered closure of schools for the next 72 hours till further orders, officials said.
Schools in Fazilka would also remain closed till further orders, they said.
- 8 May 2025 8:42 AM IST
Pak govt closes its airspace for all commercial flights at Lahore, Islamabad airports
In a late-night development Wednesday, the Pakistan government has closed its airspace for all commercial flights at Lahore and Islamabad airports.
“The country’s airspace is closed for all commercial flights at Lahore and Islamabad airports,” said the Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA) in a statement late Wednesday night. The Karachi airport is however operational.
Pakistan earlier on Wednesday announced a 48-hour closure of its airspace for all air traffic after India carried out a military strike on terror targets in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
The PAA said that it has formally conveyed its concerns to the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) regarding the “serious risks” posed to civil aviation safety by India’s “reckless and provocative actions”.
- 8 May 2025 8:40 AM IST
NIA appeals to tourists for more details on Pahalgam terror attack
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has appealed to all tourists, visitors, and local people who might have any more information, photographs or videos relating to the Pahalgam terror attack on tourists to immediately contact the agency.
NIA Appeals to People to Share Information on Pahalgam Terror Attack, Releases Phone Numbers pic.twitter.com/tEHN5woMIB
— NIA India (@NIA_India) May 7, 2025 - 8 May 2025 8:27 AM IST
#WATCH | On civil defence mock drill and blackout in Amritsar, Congress MP Gurjeet Singh Aujla says, "... There is no need to panic... Maintain peace. Our army is standing tall to face this situation... Don't store ration. Some traders are taking advantage of the problem and… pic.twitter.com/8VVV1yDnCh
— ANI (@ANI) May 8, 2025 - 8 May 2025 7:54 AM IST
Air India, AI Express offer free rescheduling of tickets for armed forces personnel
Air India and Air India Express have offered free rescheduling of tickets or full refunds on cancellations for armed forces personnel who have bookings with the airlines.
The announcement came against the backdrop of India's armed forces destroying nine terrorist infrastructures, including that of Jaish-e-Mohammad and Lashkar-e-Taiba, in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) in a 25-minute-long missile and drone strike early on Wednesday.
"In the prevailing situation, for those personnel holding defence fares who are booked on Air India and Air India Express flights till 31 May 2025, we are offering full refunds on cancellation and a one-time waiver on rescheduling flights up to 30 June 2025 to support their duty commitments," Air India said in a post on X on Wednesday.
A similar post was also shared by Air India Express.
