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A day after India’s precision missile strikes hit terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK), the border states of Rajasthan and Punjab have gone into high alert. The strikes, carried out under Operation Sindoor, were in retaliation for the Pahalgam terror attack where 26 civilians, most of them tourists, were killed.
In Rajasthan, which shares a 1,037-km-long border with Pakistan, the border has been sealed completely. The Border Security Force (BSF) has been instructed to shoot on sight if any suspicious movement is observed. Local movement near the border has been restricted, allowing only residents with valid identification to enter. Anti-drone systems have been deployed to monitor and protect sensitive areas.
The Indian Air Force has suspended flight operations at airports in Jodhpur, Kishangarh, and Bikaner until May 9. Fighter jets including Sukhoi-30 MKIs are conducting continuous aerial surveillance from Ganganagar down to the Rann of Kutch. Missile defense systems have also been activated to prevent any retaliatory strikes.
Authorities have ordered school closures in the border districts of Bikaner, Sri Ganganagar, Jaisalmer, and Barmer. Ongoing examinations have been postponed. Evacuation plans for border villages are in place and emergency teams are on standby. In Jaisalmer and Jodhpur, blackouts have been mandated from midnight to 4 AM to disrupt visibility for potential airborne threats.
Punjab is also in a heightened state of alert. The state government has cancelled all police leaves and prohibited large public gatherings. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has called off all official events due to the tense atmosphere.
India launched 24 missile strikes targeting nine locations used by terror groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed. These locations were specifically chosen to avoid any military installations and focus solely on eliminating terrorist infrastructure. The Resistance Front, which had claimed responsibility for the Pahalgam attack, is a known proxy of Lashkar-e-Taiba. According to India’s Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, the operation was carefully calibrated to be proportional and avoid escalation while neutralizing terrorist threats.
In response, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif called the strikes an “act of war” and asserted that Pakistan reserves the right to respond. The situation remains tense as India stays vigilant and prepared for any further developments along the border.
Also Read: Shashi Tharoor Explains How Operation Sindoor Briefing Countered Pakistan Army Chief 7 May
