Military stations at Jammu, Pathankot and Udhampur were targeted by Pakistani-origin drones and missiles along the International Border in Jammu and Kashmir, Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff said on Thursday evening.
“The threats were swiftly neutralised using kinetic and non-kinetic capabilities in line with established Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). No casualties or material losses were reported,” the statement, posted on X, read.
Locals have told Maktoob that loud explosions were heard in the Jammu region, with drones and projectiles filling up the night sky. Jammu witnessed a complete blackout amidst rising tensions along the Indo-Pak border.
Amidst tensions, authorities in several districts in Punjab and the Union Territory of Chandigarh have ordered complete blackouts starting Thursday night, with authorities citing alerts from the Indian Air Force (IAF) and the Indian Army as precautionary measures.
This came after India on Wednesday carried out “Operation Sindoor” targeting nine sites in Pakistan territory that the Indian military claims to be “terrorist camps”. The escalation was in response to the Pahalgam terror attack. Pakistan retaliated by indiscrimately firing at villages along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir.
Sixteen people, including children, were killed in the firing, according to the Ministry of Defence.
Meanwhile, security at all Indian airports has been stepped up to the highest level with the aviation security regulator ordering secondary pre-boarding checks for all passengers and all flights, banning entry of visitors at airport terminals, and deployment of required number of air marshals in line with the increased threat perception, among several other measures, all of which shall be in place at least till May 18.
The Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) on Thursday ordered 100 per cent secondary ladder point checking.
