The armed forces said today that all its pilots are "back home safe" after the air strikes on Pakistani air bases and other crucial targets. Asked about Pakistan's claim that they have downed two Indian jets at a press conference this evening, the officers refused to comment saying it is still a combat situation.

The Navy's deployment in the Arabian Sea during Operation Sindoor virtually forced the Pakistan Navy to remain in the harbour or near the coast, the Indian Navy said today, revealing for the first time the role naval forces played in the Pahalgam terror attack counterstrike. Read here

The Pakistan Army reportedly lost nearly 35 to 40 personnel between May 7-10 in firing across the Line of Control, when India launched retaliatory counterstrikes responding to its aggression, said the Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) Lt Gen Rajiv Ghai at a special press briefing on Sunday. 

"On the night of 8-9 May, they (Pakistan) flew drones and aircraft into our airspace all across the borders and made largely unsuccessful attempts to target numerous military infrastructure. Violations on the LoC by Pakistan also commenced yet again and precipitated into fierce engagements," said Lt Gen Rajiv Ghai. Read here

The Indian Army lost 5 soldiers in 'Operation Sindoor', launched in response to a terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam. "I pay homage to 5 fellow personnel from the armed forces, their sacrifices will always be remembered," the Army said in a briefing today.

Pakistan has been 'put on notice', India declared Sunday evening, a day after a US-brokered ceasefire brought the two nations' 100-hour drone and missile war to a halt. The government said Pak had been sent a 'hotline' message earlier in the day that said any violation of the ceasefire, whether tonight or at a later date, would be responded to 'fiercely'. Read here

"Operation Sindoor marked a significant demonstration of India's military and strategic prowess through a blend of military and non-military means. This multi-dimensional operation successfully neutralized terrorist threats, deterred Pakistani aggression, and reinforced India's zero-tolerance policy toward terrorism, all while maintaining strategic restraint and international support," said the Army in a special press briefing.

"Our cities had a mass raid of drones in waves, but we were prepared," sats the Air Force on Operation Sindoor

Open source intelligence (OSINT) experts and analysts have posted maps and visuals of what they claimed were damages to Pakistan's military infrastructure in cruise missile strikes by India. The hostilities began with the killing of 26 tourists by Pakistan-linked terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam on April 22. While India launched precision cruise missile strikes at terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK), the neighbouring country where the military has a strong grip on the civilian government escalated the situation by attacking civilian areas in India with drones. Read here

"We targeted only terrorist bases and there was no collateral damage. There were 9 sites, some of these were in PoJK while others were located in Punjab province. We achieved total surprise and those 9 strikes left more than 100 terrorists killed. Indian Air force played a major part in these strikes, Indian navy provided precision wherewithal," said the Army on Operation Sindoor. 

"It was a very, very good moment. But listen, some of these people are clearly in the camp of those who wanted a quote unquote war to finish off Pakistan. I think that is frankly fatuous. I do not believe we could have indulged in a war to finish off Pakistan. Number one.  

"Number two, I don't think that we could have achieved that outcome, given that Pakistan of today is for all its stagnant economy and all its problems. It still is a country with a very considerable army. And as we've seen with some friends who are willing to supply it with rather sophisticated weaponry, I personally don't think that a government that is focused on the development of the country should have embarked on any further adventure. I think personally, I applaud the ceasefire. I would have applauded if it happened the previous day. And I would have applauded if it happened the next day," Shashi Tharoor told NDTV.  

"Pakistan chose to attack our cities and attack our military bases. We wiped out their air bases, their airfields. I think it was simply retaliatory on India's part. And I think everything we did was extremely well done. But none of it, none of it, I repeat, was because India was interested in initiating a war. That was never on the cards," Shashi Tharoor told NDTV. 

"To my mind, what the government of India has done in accepting the ceasefire was not only the right thing to do. It was always going to be the thing they were going to do. They had made it clear from the first day. And I'm surprised there's even a debate about this. That if Pakistan hits, we will hit back. If Pakistan stops, we will stop. And that's exactly what we did," Shashi Tharoor told NDTV.

Under Operation Sindoor, Indian armed forces not only struck Pakistani military bases near the border but their might was even felt in Rawalpindi where the headquarters of the Pakistani Army is located, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on Sunday. "We not only took action against the military bases near the border but the threat of Indian forces was felt even in Rawalpindi where the headquarters of the Pakistani army is located," said the Minister.

Operation Sindoor was launched on early May 7 to destroy nine terror infrastructure bases in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir in retaliation to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that claimed 26 lives. All subsequent retaliations to Pakistani offensives were carried out under Operation Sindoor. India and Pakistan on Saturday announced reaching an understanding to stop all firings and military actions on land, air and sea, with immediate effect.

Pakistan's High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Mohammad Faisal, during an interview with the UK's Sky News, was asked whether he could clarify the role of President Trump in the ceasefire agreement between India and Pakistan. The ceasefire, declared at 5:00 PM on Saturday, was announced not by the military commands of the two nuclear powers but by US President Donald Trump via a post on his social media platform, Truth Social. Read here 

Indian Army chief General Upendra Dwivedi has given the green light to all Army Commanders in the western borders to launch counteraction if the understanding reached between India and Pakistan's DGMOs on Saturday is violated. Read here

As the Indus Waters Treaty remains suspended, India opened most of the gates of Salal Dam in Jammu and Kashmir. This dam is built on Chenab River in Reasi.

Earlier on Thursday, India had opened most of the sluice gates of Baglihar Dam in Jammu and Kashmir. Due to this, the risk of floods in the border areas of Pakistan had increased.

This was the first symbolic step taken by India to temporarily restrict the flow of Chenab river, which is covered under the treaty.

Under Operation Sindoor, Indian armed forces not only struck Pakistani military bases near the border but their might was even felt in Rawalpindi where the headquarters of the Pakistani Army is located, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said.

Speaking virtually at an event in Lucknow to inaugurate a BrahMos production unit, the defence minister said Operation Sindoor is not just a military action, but a symbol of India's political, social and strategic will against terrorism.

"We have shown that whenever India takes any action against terrorism, even the land across the border will not be safe for the terrorists and their masters," he said.

"We never targeted their civilians. But Pakistan not only targeted civilian areas of India but also tried to attack temples, gurudwaras and churches," he noted.

India and Pakistan were at war for a little less than 100 hours before a ceasefire, effective 5pm May 10, brought them back from the edge of a tit-for-tat military escalation that could have led to nuclear war, a prospect the world cannot afford.

NDTV works back through the key military events in this big story.

Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha has paid his tributes to Border Security Force (BSF) Sub Inspector Md Imteyaz, who lost his life during cross-border firing by Pakistan along the International Boundary on Saturday.

Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, requesting him to call a special session of Parliament to discuss Operation Sindoor and the India-Pakistan ceasefire. Mr Gandhi underlined that US President Donald Trump first announced the ceasefire.

"Dear Prime Minister, I reiterate the unanimous request of the Opposition to convene a special session of Parliament immediately. It is crucial for the people and their representatives to discuss the Pahalgam terror attack, Operation Sindoor and today's ceasefire, first announced by US President Trump. This will also be an opportunity to demonstrate our collective resolve to meet the challenges ahead. I trust that you will consider this demand seriously and swiftly," Mr Gandhi wrote.

The local Reddi Chowkibal market in north Kashmir's Kupwara reopened on Sunday after a week-long closure.

Speaking to ANI, a shopkeeper, Naseer Ahmad said the local market had been closed for seven days due to shelling. He asserted that while the market had reopened, significant damage had already been done to the shops and the surrounding infrastructure.

Amid heightened security concerns in the country, the Sai Baba temple trust at Shirdi in Maharashtra has decided not to allow garland, bouquets and shawls to brought inside the temple complex. The famous temple which draws millions of devotees every year had received a threatening email last week.

Goraksh Gadilkar, a member of the Sai Baba Sansthan Trust, said devotees will be searched before entering the temple.

The Siddhivinayak temple in Mumbai will not allow garlands, prasad and coconuts inside from May 11.

In the post, Ranveer said he does not hold any hate for Pakistanis and apologised if people from the neighbouring country felt that Indians were spreading hatred.

"For the last few hours, there have been repeated violations of the understanding arrived at earlier this evening between the Directors General of Military Operations of India and Pakistan. This is a breach of the understanding arrived at earlier today. The armed forces are giving an adequate and appropriate response to these violations, and we take very, very serious note of these violations. We call upon Pakistan to take appropriate steps to address these violations and deal with the situation with seriousness and responsibility. The armed forces are maintaining a strong vigil on the situation. They have been given instructions to deal strongly with any instances of repetition of the violations of the border along the International Border as well as the Line of Control. Thank You."

Calm prevailed in Punjab, especially in the border areas of the state, with authorities asking people to resume their normal activities and maintain calm.

The district authorities have requested people not to burst firecrackers or fly drones. They also urged people not to lend credence to any rumours and to stay calm.

Punjab, which shares a 553-km border with Pakistan, had reimposed blackout measures in several districts on Saturday evening after Pakistani forces violated ceasefire. However, electricity was restored early on Sunday.

In the first meeting after violation of the ceasefire between India and Pakistan, a key meet is underway at Prime Minister Narendra Modi's residence.

Among those attending the meet are National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, and chiefs of the Indian Air Force and Navy.

The nephew of Pahalgam terror victim Yatish expressed gratitude towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Indian Army for Operation Sindoor and called for the elimination of terrorism.

Yatish said, "PM Modi and our Army took revenge by launching Operation Sindoor, and we thank them for that. PM Modi should eliminate terrorism once and for all."

Hours after a US-mediated India-Pakistan ceasefire was violated, President Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social, While not even discussed, I am going to increase trade, substantially, with both of these great Nations. Additionally, I will work with you both to see if, after a 'thousand years', a solution can be arrived at concerning Kashmir."

32 airports continue to remain temporarily closed for civil flights until May 14 or until further notice, amid tensions between India and Pakistan. The closed airports are:

Adhampur, Ambala, Amritsar, Awantipur, Bathinda, Bhuj, Bikaner, Chandigarh, Halwara, Hindon, Jammu, Jaisalmer, Jamnagar, Jodhpur, Kandla, Kangra (Gaggal), Keshod, Kishangarh, Kullu Manali (Bhuntar), Leh, Ludhiana, Mundra, Naliya, Pathankot, Patiala, Porbandar, Rajkot (Hirasar), Sarsawa, Shimla, Srinagar, Thoise and Uttarlai.

After four days of precision missile strikes, drone incursions, and artillery battles across the Line of Control (LoC), India and Pakistan agreed to halt all military actions on land, air, and sea, with effect from the evening of May 10.

Hours later, Pakistani drones were sighted and intercepted in various locations in Jammu and Kashmir, including Srinagar, and parts of Gujarat.

These developments followed a sequence of escalating military exchanges since Friday morning. But what exactly unfolded?

The government would treat any future act of terror as an act of war, top sources said amid continued drone attacks and cross-border shelling by Pakistan. Included in the definition of an act of terror is an act carried out with the intention to threaten the unity, integrity, and security of the nation, intimidate the public, or disturb the public order, according to Indian law.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi spoke to India's National Security Advisory (NSA) Ajit Doval and expressed hope that New Delhi and Islamabad would address their differences through dialogue and achieve a lasting ceasefire.

Wang also spoke to Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Xinhua's reports said.

Wang told Doval that China supports and expects India and Pakistan to achieve a comprehensive and lasting ceasefire through consultation, which is in the fundamental interest of the two countries and meets the common aspiration of the international community. He said China condemns the terrorist attack in Pahalgam and opposes all forms of terrorism.

War is not the choice of the Indian side and is not in the interest of either side, Doval underlined, adding that both India and Pakistan will be committed to the ceasefire and look forward to restoring regional peace and stability as soon as possible, the reports said.

Two Indian Armed forces personnel were martyred - an Indian Air Force officer and a BSF Sub-Inspector - amid intensified shelling and drone attacks by Pakistani forces across the Jammu region.

Sergeant Surendra Kumar Moga, a 36-year-old medical assistant attached with IAF's 36 Wing, was killed in a Pakistani strike while stationed in J&K's Udhampur. Originally posted in Bengaluru, he had been redeployed to Udhampur just four days ago due to escalating tensions with Pakistan.

Sub-Inspector Mohammed Imtiaz was killed when his BSF unit positioned along the International Border in RS Pura sector came under heavy Pakistani firing. "He, along with seven others, were wounded. While Imtiaz died of wounds, the others are stable and under treatment at a health facility," a BSF official said.

Blackout was lifted in Amritsar even as all six sensitive districts -- Ferozpur, Pathankot, Fazilka, Amritsar, Gurdaspur and Tarn Taran -- that share borders with Pakistan remain on high alert hours after Pakistan violated the ceasefire agreement.

Authorities in Amritsar advised residents to observe caution, remain indoors, not to create panic and not believe in unconfirmed reports of Pakistani drone sightings.

The administration issued landline civil control room numbers 01832226262 and 7973867446 and police control rooms at 9781130666 and 9780003387.

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor took a poetic jab at Pakistan after it violated the ceasefire within hours of announcing it amid simmering tensions with India.

In a late-night post on X, Mr Tharoor posted a Hindi couplet: "Uski fitrat hai mukar jaane ki, uske vaade pe yakeen kaise karu." It roughly translates to "It's their nature to go back on their word, how can I trust their promises?"

Blackout measures were reimposed in several districts of Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab and Rajasthan Saturday evening after Pakistan violated the understanding with India on the stoppage of firing and military action. 

A blackout was enforced in Srinagar, Jammu city, Kathua, Nagrota in Jammu and Kashmir; in Pathankot and Ferozepur in Punjab; and Jaisalmer and Barmer in Rajasthan.

The government this evening confirmed that Pakistan violated the "understanding arrived at earlier this evening". Pakistan's violations came just hours after India and Pakistan agreed to a ceasefire.

Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said the "armed forces are giving an adequate and appropriate response to these violations".

The ceasefire with Pakistan is a conditional one and there is no change in India's position on the diplomatic measures against the neighbouring country, including the suspension of the Indus Water Treaty, sources have said.

The Army's 16 Corps, the White Knight Corps, said suspicious movement was spotted near the perimeter at Nagrota Military Station.

Gujarat Home Minister Harsh Sanghavi said drones were spotted in Kutch district. A complete blackout will be implemented now, he added.

The District Collector of Amritsar said "Since there are reports of ceasefire violations, we will remain on alert today. We will observe blackout if and when needed. I advise all to  kindly be prepared for enforcement of blackout if the need arises and be at home/indoors.  Please do not indulge in bursting of fire crackers. We have done this drill several times so please don't panic. This is by way of abundant caution

Border Security Force officer Sub Inspector Md Imteyaz was killed in action during cross-border firing along the international border in R S Pura area in the Jammu district.

The BSF said the officer was leading a border outpost and "gallantly led from the front."

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah in a post on X said he heard some "explosions" in Srinagar.

NCP (SP) chief and former defence minister Sharad Pawar said that "Operation Sindoor" which was carried out by Indian armed forces in response to Pahalgam terror attack was "essential for the security of the nation".

He also welcomed the ceasefire, saying, "India has always stood for peace and dialogue. If steps are being taken in that direction, they are welcome. However, taking firm action against terrorism is also a collective duty of the international community".

Authorities in Punjab withdrew orders pertaining to enforcement of blackout on Saturday evening after India and Pakistan agreed to an immediate ceasefire.

District administrations of Sangrur, Rupnagar and Fazilka withdrew blackout orders while authorities in districts like Jalandhar, Kapurthala and Patiala also cancelled restrictive orders.

The order for enforcing a blackout from 8 pm till 6 am in the Sangrur district has been cancelled, said an official.

"All restrictive orders are hereby withdrawn. Thank you for your support," said Patiala Deputy Commissioner Preeti Yadav.

"All restrictive orders are immediately withdrawn within the district. Things may resume as normal. Thanks for all your support," said the Jalandhar DC in a message.

Hoshiarpur DC Aashika Jain said, "All restriction orders stand suspended. Normalcy restored. Thanks for all your cooperation, support and efforts in challenging times."

Earlier in the day, authorities in districts including Jalandhar, Pathankot, and Kapurthala had advised the closure of markets and commercial establishments and had urged citizens to avoid large gatherings.

Soon after the ceasefire announcement, Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a high-level meeting at his residence. The meeting was attended by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh among others.

After India and Pakistan announced a ceasefire, there will be no blackout in Gujarat's Kachchh

The ceasefire with Pakistan is a conditional one and there is no change in India's position on the diplomatic measures against the neighbouring country, including the suspension of the Indus Water Treaty, sources have said.

The Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) of Pakistan called his Indian counterpart, initiating the call, after which discussions took place and an understanding was reached for a ceasefire. There is no decision to hold talks on any other issue at any other place.

Air Force Chief, Air Chief Marshal AP Singh, Navy Chief, Admiral DK Tripathi and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval are meeting the Prime Minister at his residence post the announcement of ceasefire between India and Pakistan.

India categorically said it did not target religious sites during its military action against Pakistan.

India said they inflicted heavy damage on the Pakistani army, and their air defence system was damaged in the Indian response.

The Ministry of Defence press briefing has started. An hour ago, India announced that both sides have agreed to a ceasefire from 5 pm today.

The Director General of Military Operations of Pakistan called the Director General of Military Operations of India at 1535 hours IST earlier today.

It was agreed between them that both sides would stop all firing and military action on land and in the air and sea with effect from 1700 hours Indian Standard Time today.

Instructions have been given on both sides to give effect to the understanding.

In a massive statement after four days of hostilities, US President Donald Trump has said India and Pakistan have agreed to a "full and immediate" ceasefire following a "long night of talks" mediated by the United States.

Precision, controlled, restrained, calibrated, responsible -- these are some of the words that have been repeatedly used in the government briefings since India launched Operation Sindoor to avenge the Pahalgam terror attack in which 26 innocents were killed in cold blood.

These briefings by Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, Colonel Sofiya Qureshi and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh articulate the government's intent to the nation and the world. Hence, one can be assured that much thought goes into every word mentioned in these briefings.

At least 60 domestic flights to and from the Delhi airport were cancelled on Saturday, a source said.

Security measures have been reinforced, and at least 32 airports in northern and western parts of the country have been temporarily shut as the military conflict between India and Pakistan has intensified.

Keeping up its misinformation warfare alongside three waves of drone and missile attacks on military and civilian targets in India, the Pakistani establishment and people backed by it have continued to spread lies, including that Indian armed forces fire missiles on Amritsar, officials have said.

The officials listed out a series of misinformation, half-truths and outright lies propagated by Pakistan to sow discord in India, paint itself in a flattering light and try and gain the world's sympathy. They also pointed out that measures are being taken to counter such misinformation, including with timely fact-checks and visual evidence.

"Pakistan is running a widespread campaign full of lies targeting India, using both official channels and social media to incite communal unrest, spread false reports about military events, cause panic among Indian citizens and create international confusion regarding India's actions," an official said.

Pakistan is finding it very hard to pierce through India's robust 'drone, detect, deter, and destroy' system, developed by Indian defence scientists.

As Pakistan continues to target India with drones along the western border, an indigenous system, developed by the Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO), is thwarting Islamabad's strikes. It is akin to the famous "Iron Dome" shield used by Israel to thwart rocket attacks by Hamas in Gaza and Houthis in Yemen.

The warning is significant as Pakistan has been launching drone and missile attacks on military installations and civilian areas in northern India for the last three nights. Nearly all of them have been intercepted by the robust Indian air defence network.

The announcement of the new rules of engagement against terror with cross-border linkages comes two weeks after Pakistan-linked terrorists killed 26 tourists in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam.

In response, while India launched precision cruise missile strikes at terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK), the neighbouring country where the military has a strong grip on the civilian government escalated the situation by attacking civilian areas in India with drones.

Mohammad Hassan Khan, who belonged to the banned Jaish group, was among the terrorists killed in the May 7 strikes. He was the son of Mufti Asghar Khan Kashmiri, operational commander of JeM in POK, and played a key role in coordinating terrorist attacks in Jammu and Kashmir.

These terrorists were eliminated during the first strike carried out by the Indian forces under Operation Sindoor three days ago, in response to the massacre of 26 civilians in Pahalgam by terrorists linked to Pakistan. India had blamed Pakistan for "sustained cross-border terrorism" after the terror attack.

Abu Akasha, alias Khalid, was a Lashkar terrorist who was involved in multiple terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir. He played a key role in smuggling weapons from Afghanistan for the LeT. His funeral in Faisalabad was attended by senior officials of the Pakistan Army and the Deputy Commissioner of Faisalabad, said sources.

Mohammad Yusuf Azhar, alias Ustad Ji and Mohd Salim, belonging to the Jaish-e-Mohammed, was killed by Indian strikes as part of Operation Sindoor. He was also the brother-in-law of Masood Azhar and handled weapons training for the JeM. He has been involved in multiple terror attacks across Jammu and Kashmir, and the hijacking of the IC-814 plane in 1999, popularly known as the Kandahar hijacking, which led to the release of Masood Azhar by India in exchange for the hostages.

Jameel was associated with Jaish-e-Mohammed and the brother-in-law of Maulana Masood Azhar, the founder of the JeM. He held the charge of Markaz Subhan Allah in Bahawalpur, about 100 km deep inside Pakistan. He actively indoctrinated potential recruits for the JeM and helped raise funds, said sources.

The Bahawalpur camp was used for recruitment, training, and the indoctrination of potential recruits and was frequented by Azhar. The strike on the terror camp on May 7 killed at least 10 family members of Azhar and his four aides, according to a statement attributed to the wanted terrorist shared by the news agency PTI.

Mudassar Khadian Khas, who went by the names Mudassar and Abu Jundal, was affiliated with the Lashkar-e-Taiba. He had the charge of Markaz Taiba, a terror camp based in Muridke, Pakistan, located about 25 km from the border with India. It served as the headquarters of the LeT.
Khas' funeral was led by designated global terrorist Hafiz Abdul Rauf at a government school, said sources. At his funeral, Khas was given a guard of honour by the Pakistan Army with top military officers laying a wreath on behalf of Pakistan Army chief General Asim Munir and Maryam Nawaz, Chief Minister of Punjab Province.
Those who attended his prayer ceremony included a serving officer of the Pakistan Army holding the rank of Lt General and the Inspector General of Punjab Province's police.

The Murid airbase, located in Pakistan's Punjab, is the headquarters of Pakistan's drone operations. This airbase houses Pakistan's homemade drone Shahpar-I, and the Turkish-made Bayraktar TB2 and Akinci. Over the past two days, Pakistan has sent hundreds of drones across the border. Many of these were unarmed, ostensibly sent for intelligence gathering and to identify Indian positions. Some of them were, however, armed. Most of these drones were taken down by the Indian air defence system.

The Pakistan Air Force base at Rafiqui in Punjab province is one of the three bases targeted by the Indian Armes this morning. Rafiqui air base is home to advanced fighter squadrons of Mirage and JF-17 aircraft and is a training centre for missions in Punjab and Kashmir.

The past few days have been frenetic air activity involving fighter jets of the two countries and the Rafiqui airbase is likely to have played a key role in Pakistan's aerial attacks on India. Targeting this airbase was aimed at disrupting Pakistan's attack capabilities. Rafiqui, like Murid and Chaklala, was targeted with air-launched precision weapons.

Pakistan Air Force base at Nur Khan is one of the three bases targeted by the India Air Force this morning. The Nur Khan air base, earlier known as PAF base, Chaklala, is located at Rawalpindi. This airbase is the nerve centre of Pakistan's aerial mobility and serves as the headquarters of its Air Mobility Command.

According to officials in the Indian Air Force, the Nur Khan airbase played a key role in coordinating the cross-border drone and missile attacks by Pakistan in the last 72 hours. This airbase houses a Saab 2000 airborne early warning and control aircraft that is believed to have played a key role in Pakistan's aerial attacks on Indian cities.

Fighter jets of the India Air Force targeted Pakistan Air Force's bases at Rafiqui, Murid and Chaklala early this morning to counter Pakistan's reckless drone and missile attacks targeting civilian areas and military infrastructure in India's western sector.

India chose targets carefully. The objective was to cripple Pakistan's capability to launch aerial attacks using drones and fighter jets. The attack on these key air force centres has likely hit Pakistan's air reconnaissance and long-range strike capabilities.

Read here.

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has requested the public to "immediately" inform the police or the army if they find a part of any bomb, drone or missile. 

"They will come there and defuse it. Don't rush there to see it," he said.

He also urged everyone to not panic or believe rumours.

The morning of Day 4 of Operation Sindoor suggests that the conflict has widened, taking into its scope all of eastern Pakistan and north-western India. The conflict now stands poised at a crossroads. It can either die down, or begin climbing an escalatory ladder, writes Manoj Joshi.

Read the full piece here.

India has firmly rejected Pakistani claims of major damage to its military infrastructure following coordinated cross-border strikes launched overnight. In a special press briefing convened Saturday morning, senior officials from the Ministry of External Affairs, Indian Army, and Indian Air Force jointly addressed the media on the hostilities along the western front, describing Pakistan's actions as "provocative" but claiming Indian forces had responded "calmly, proportionately, and effectively."

A video is being circulated as that of a missile strike on New Delhi Airport. According to a fact check, the viral video is fake. It has no connection to the current India-Pakistan situation.

The video shows a gas station explosion in Aden, Yemen, from August 2024, said the PIB.

The Indian Army has destroyed multiple terrorist launchpads located near the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir. The targeted strikes came in response to a wave of drone attacks and cross-border escalations initiated by Pakistan in recent days, the Ministry of Defence confirmed on Saturday.

The Army shared video footage of the precision strikes conducted on Friday. The targeted sites had long been under surveillance for their role in enabling infiltration and planning terror attacks against civilians and security forces in India.

"The Indian Army's swift and decisive action has dealt a significant blow to terrorist infrastructure and capabilities," the Army said in a statement.

As a reporter, I have covered conflict before. I have walked the fragile line that divides calm from chaos in different conflict zones. But what I witnessed in Rajouri, Jammu and Kashmir, over the past few days, has stayed with me - not the sound of gunfire, but the silence of an exodus, writes NDTV's Anurag Dwary.

Read the full piece here.

A high-level meeting is underway at the Prime Minister's residence with three service chiefs and Chief of Defence Staff Anil Chauhan in attendance. Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and NSA Ajit Doval are also present.

Amidst the military conflict between India and Pakistan, around 75 students from Kerala, who were studying in universities in some border states, are on their way back home, the state government said on Saturday.

The students from various central and state universities in Jammu, Rajasthan, Punjab, and other places, along the border with Pakistan, reached Kerala House in Delhi late last night and early Saturday morning, a statement issued by the Chief Minister's Office said.

The students will reach Kerala during the day and on Sunday via various flights and trains, it said.

In an apt response to a Pakistan Army officer flagging Indians' critical remarks against its government, the Centre today said such criticism is the hallmark of any open and functioning democracy and added that Pakistan's unfamiliarity with such a culture should not be surprising.

An order from the Department of Higher Education in Punjab asks all universities and colleges to ensure student safety as tensions between India and Pakistan escalate.

While it has been asked to declare holidays but if a student is unable to leave the campus or unwilling to do so due to safety, transport, or personal reasons, they should be forced to do so, as per the government order.

"Till the last student remains on campus, the full responsibility for their safety, care, and well-being lies with the University and/or College Administration. This includes continued access to accommodation, food, healthcare, and essential services," the order read.

Exams must not be a reason to compel a student to stay. No academic penalty for those returning home—rescheduling or alternatives must be provided.

An old and digitally altered video is being falsely circulated as footage of a Pakistani attack on the Nagrota Air Base, said the Press Information Bureau's fact-check department. The video was originally posted on Instagram in October 2024, they said, busting the claim.

A missile-like object landed deep inside the Dal Lake -- a major tourist attraction in Srinagar -- after loud explosions rocked the city on Saturday morning, officials said.

After trying to sow communal discord in India using disinformation, Pakistani army officials have made "ludicrous claims" that Indian missiles have hit Afghanistan, the government said in a briefing this morning.

Pakistani officials also spread fake news about India firing missiles towards Amritsar, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri told reporters in Delhi.

"Totally frivolous allegation. I only want to point out that the Afghan people don't need to be reminded about which country it is that on multiple occasions in just the last one-and-a-half years targeted civilian infrastructure and population in Afghanistan," Mr Misri said, pointing at Pakistan's attacks on Afghan fighters.

A red alert has been issued in Rajasthan's border districts, including Jaisalmer and Barmer. People have been asked to stay indoors and avoid social gatherings.

People in Barmer have been asked to avoid and postpone their travel to the city. 

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar had a telephonic conversation with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio over India Pakistan conflict. Mr Jaishankar said "India's approach has always been measured and responsible and remains so."

Mr Rubio emphasised de-escalation amid soaring tensions between India and Pakistan. Mr Rubio said that both India and Pakistan need to "identify methods to de-escalate and re-establish direct communication" to avoid miscalculation.

Mr Rubio offered US support in facilitating "productive discussions to avert future disputes."

Viral posts claiming destruction at the Bathinda airfield are fake. The Bathinda airfield is fully operational and there is no damage whatsoever, the centre clarified.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh meets Chief of Defence Staff Anil Chauhan on rising tensions between the two neighbouring nations - India and Pakistan. CDS reportedly briefed the Defence Minister on the army's action since last night. He also briefed Mr Singh on Pakistan's attack.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and emphasised de-escalation amid soaring tensions between India and Pakistan.

In a telephonic conversation, Mr Rubio said that both India and Pakistan need to "identify methods to de-escalate and re-establish direct communication" to avoid miscalculation.

Mr Rubio offered US support in facilitating "productive discussions to avert future disputes."

Claims about air force stations in Sirsa and Suratgarh being destroyed are completely false, said Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri.

A claim has been made that the S-400 air defence system in Adampur has been destroyed. It is also false, said Mr Misri, debunking misinformation.

"Claims have been made about large sections of critical Indian infrastructure, power systems, cyber systems being attacked and destroyed are completely false," he added.

Mr Misri urged people not to be misled by lies "peddled by Pakistan".

Pakistani claims about activities that they have undertaken continue to be heavy on lies, misinformation and propoganda. This is peddled by Pakistani state agencies, said Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri.

Indian Armed Forces reiterate their commitment to non-escalation, provided it is reciprocated by the Pakistan military, said Colonel Sofiya Qureshi during a special briefing on Operation Sindoor.

Responding to Pakistan escalations, Indian Armed Forces (IAF) attacked only "identified military targets", Colonel Sofiya Qureshi informed during a special briefing. These included technical infrastructure, command and control centres, radar sites and weapon storage areas.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah met the family of Jammu and Kashmir officer killed in Pakistan shelling this morning. Mr Abdullah paid condolences to the family of Dr Raj Kumar Thapa, Additional District Development Commissioner, Rajouri, who lost his life in the line of duty.
"His service and sacrifice will never be forgotten. The Government stands firmly with his family in this hour of grief," wrote Mr Abdullah on X (former Twitter), along with pictures from the meeting.

Several posts on social media claim that an Indian pilot ejected from a fighter jet over Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). The claim is fake, said the Press Information Bureau (PIB) fact-check department.

The terrorist launch pad at Looni in Pakistan's Sialkot was destroyed by the BSF.

The colour of sindoor is not very different from the colour of blood spilt by the perpetrators of the Pahalgam terror attack, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor told a Saudi Arabian news channel while explaining why the name of India's counterstrike, Operation Sindoor, has struck a chord.

Mr Tharoor was speaking with Al Arabiya, a Saudi Arabian news channel, on the India-Pakistan tension when asked why the name, Operation Sindoor, was significant.

Sindoor, he said, is the vermilion mark married women put in the parting of their hair. "The image that was seared into the nation's consciousness after the terrorist attack in Pahalgam was of a newly wedded -- now newly widowed -- bride on her honeymoon kneeling disconsolately by the body of her slain husband, in other words, the terrorist attack had wiped the sindoor of her forehead as only married women wear it," Mr Tharoor said, referring to the heartbreaking image of Himanshi Narwal, wife of Indian Navy officer Lieutenant Vinay Narwal, who was killed in the terror attack days after his wedding. Twenty-five other people were killed in the attack.

In Punjab's Ferozepur, announcements are being made, asking shopkeepers to shut down markets.

The Pakistani military claims blasts occurred at three air force installations, including the Nur Khan Air Base in Rawalpindi. NDTV's Shiv Aroor decodes the importance of these air bases.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke with Pakistan's Army Chief General Asim Munir on Friday and urged both Pakistan and India to find ways to de-escalate, a US Department of State spokesperson said.

Mr Rubio also offered US assistance in starting constructive talks to avoid future conflicts, Tammy Bruce, the spokesperson said.

Several pro-Pakistan social media accounts are falsely claiming that three fighter jets have crashed in different areas of the Himalayan region. The image being circulated is old, dating back to 2016, said the Press Information Bureau (PIB).

Indian forces have destroyed several Pakistani military posts and a terror launchpad in retaliation as Pakistan continued to escalate the situation, sources said. The launchpad destroyed in the Indian strikes was used to launch tube-launched drones, they added.

The retaliation followed a coordinated wave of drone attacks from Islamabad targeting military infrastructure at 26 locations from Leh in the north to Sir Creek in the south.

Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Friday held a meeting with senior health officials of the Delhi government hospitals to review emergency preparedness in the light of the ongoing military conflict between India and Pakistan.

Ms Gupta directed the senior officials of various hospitals to ensure that all medical facilities remain fully prepared for any emergency situation, said a government statement.

She also instructed all government hospitals in Delhi to immediately establish fully equipped emergency wards, formulate SOPs, conduct mock drills and advance stockpiling of supplies, it said.

The chief minister, after the meeting said it is being ensured that there is no shortage of staff or medicines in the hospitals so that they are ready to meet any circumstances.

"Our hospitals should be ready to meet any circumstances and serve people. I got update of the arrangements in the hospitals from the medical directors," she told reporters.

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Saturday slammed the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for approving the immediate disbursement of about USD 1 billion to Pakistan amid heightening tensions with India.

"I'm not sure how the "International Community" thinks the current tension in the subcontinent will be de-escalated when the IMF essentially reimburses Pakistan for all the ordnance it is using to devastate Poonch, Rajouri, Uri, Tangdhar & so many other places," Mr Abdullah posted on X.

Red alert has been issued in Punjab's Bathinda. Residents are requested to stay inside their residences/buildings and take self-protection measures. Electricity won’t be cut off, but all other measures remain in force.

AIIMS Bhubaneswar has announced the cancellation of all kinds of leave, including vacation and station leave, amid rising India-Pakistan tensions, the news agency ANI has reported citing an official order.

A senior government official was killed in Rajouri in Pakistan shelling. Shocked by the news, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah expressed his condolences. Mr Abdullah remembered Raj Kumar Thapa, Additional District Development Commissioner with the Jammu and Kashmir government, as a "dedicated officer".

"Just yesterday he was accompanying the Deputy CM around the district & attended the online meeting I chaired. Today the residence of the officer was hit by Pak shelling as they targeted Rajouri town," he wrote.

The G7 Foreign Ministers of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States of America and the High Representative of the European Union, "strongly condemned" the terrorist attack in Pahalgam and have urged maximum restraint from both India and Pakistan. 

"Further military escalation poses a serious threat to regional stability. We are deeply concerned for the safety of civilians on both sides," they said.

In an early morning development, the Indian Army is set to brief the media at 5:45 AM today on Operation Sindoor. The briefing will take place near the South Block Lawns in New Delhi.

Pakistan Shuts Airspace After India's 'Using Civilian Flights As Shields' Charge

Amid the escalating tensions between India and Pakistan, former Indian Ambassador Vidya Bhushan Soni underlined that India has acted with responsibility and has not undertaken any actions that could be deemed blameworthy.

Speaking to ANI on Friday, Soni stated that Pakistan is a "failed" state that has been acknowledged for decades by all international agencies and world bodies.

A high-level review meeting was conducted under the chairmanship of Pratyaya Amrit, Additional Chief Secretary of Bihar's Disaster Management Department, to assess and enhance civil defence preparedness across the state, amid tensions between India and Pakistan. 

The meeting, held on Friday with Director General of Civil Defence Directorate Paresh Saxena, focused on improving citizen safety measures, especially in border and vulnerable districts during emergencies.

Delhi Airport said operations are normal, adding due to changing airspace conditions, some flight schedules might be impacted.

The Indian Army on Friday said the situation was under "close and constant watch" and that there was no cause for panic after Pakistan launched a fresh wave of drone attacks targeting 26 locations. 

The army advised citizens, especially in border areas, to remain indoors, limit unnecessary movement, and strictly follow safety instructions issued by local authorities.

"While there is no need for panic, heightened vigilance and precaution are essential," the spokesperson said.

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday chaired a meeting to review relief efforts and preparedness in border districts following intense cross-border shelling.

During the meeting, Mr Abdullah was briefed on evacuation efforts, relief camp arrangements and security measures.

Two commercial aircraft were seen flying near Pakistan's Lahore tonight while Indian air defence forces intercepted incoming drones in the northern region.

India on Friday opposed IMF's proposal to extend fresh loans of USD 2.3 billion to Pakistan, saying the funds could be misused for financing state-sponsored cross-border terrorism.

New Delhi abstained from voting at the crucial International Monetary Fund meeting, whose outcome was not known till the filing of the story.

As an active and responsible member country, India raised concerns over the efficacy of IMF programmes in case of Pakistan given its poor track record, and also on the possibility of misuse of debt financing funds for state-sponsored cross-border terrorism, the finance ministry said in a statement.

India registered its protest at the board of IMF, which met on Friday to review the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) lending programme (USD 1 billion) and also considered a fresh Resilience and Sustainability Facility (RSF) lending programme (USD 1.3 billion) for Pakistan.

Pakistan on Friday night claimed the International Monetary Fund had authorised the "immediate disbursement" of a billion-dollar bailout to its troubled economy.

The claim was made by Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's office; a statement from the Pak PMO, cited by news agencies Reuters and PTI, said Mr Sharif had "expressed satisfaction over the approval of a $1 billion... by the IMF and the failure of India's high-handed tactics..."

There has been no statement by the IMF, so far, on sanction of the loan.

The claim, meanwhile, was made as the Pakistani military launched weapon-carrying drones and missiles at western Indian cities and military installations for a third consecutive night.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said US President Donald Trump wants to see the conflict between India and Pakistan de-escalate "as quickly as possible".

India struck nine terror sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir(PoK) under 'Operation Sindoor' early Wednesday. India's strike was a powerful retaliation for the Pahalgam massacre on April 22, in which 26 people, mostly tourists, were killed.

"The President has expressed he wants to see this de-escalate as quickly as possible. He understands these are two countries that have been at odds with one another for decades, long before President Trump was here in the Oval Office," Ms Leavitt said.

"This is something that the Secretary of State and, of course, now our national security advisor as well, Marco Rubio, has been very much involved in," Leavitt added.

As a precautionary measure, a blackout has been imposed in the villages of bordering Santalpur taluka in Patan district. All the citizens are advised to stay away from rumours and follow the instructions issued by administration from time to time, Gujarat Chief Minister's Office said.

Amid tensions between India and Pakistan, Himachal Pradesh's Solan has declared a blackout.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's meeting with S Jaishankar, NSA Ajit Doval and Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri has ended.

A Pakistan Airlines flight, PIA306, is flying very close to the international border. The flight took off from Karachi and is headed to Lahore. 

India has called out Pakistan for using civilian flights as a shield while it sneakily tried to launch drones on India last night and a day before that. Pakistan used the unsuspecting civilian aircraft flying in its airspace as shields, the government said in a press briefing today. 

SpiceJet has cancelled its flights to-and-from Leh, Srinagar, Amritsar, Kandla, Dharamshala, and Porbandar till May 14, 11:59 PM due to the ongoing situation.

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah appealed to the people of Jammu to "Stay off the streets, stay at home or at the nearest place you can comfortably stay at for the next few hours."

"Ignore rumours, don't spread unsubstantiated or unverified stories & we will get through this together," he added.

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said he could hear "Intermittent sounds of blasts, probably heavy artillery."

Intense air activity is being reported in Punjab's Amritsar as well.

Drones were being intercepted in Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri, NDTV journalist, who is in the area, reported. Air defence systems were seen neutralizing the threat.

Heavy pounding is going on in the Uri sector of Baramulla as well.

Drones were being intercepted in Attari - an area very close to the border with Pakistan. Counter measures are being deployed to intercept the UAVs.

Heavy artillery shelling in Tangdhar, Keran and Machil sectors of Kupwara in Jammu and Kashmir 

Explosions were heard in Rajasthan's Pokharan. A blackout was already in place in the region.

Red alert issued in Rajasthan's Sri Ganganagar, sirens could be heard. A full blackout has been imposed in the region. 

Explosions heard in Rajasthan's Barmer and lights seen in the sky. Heavy security deployment in the region, blackout has been imposed.

NDTV reporter heard explosions in Rajasthan's Jaisalmer and spotted lights in the sky. 

A swarm of drones are being spotted in Punjab's Gurdaspur, a city located very close to the international border with Pakistan and air raid sirens are being heard. 

High security is in Punjab's Ferozepur, a border area. Police patrolling has been increased in the city and also advising people not to use the headlights of vehicles

Pakistan has violated the ceasefire again and has opened artillery shelling in Poonch - an area very close to the Line of Control. Blackout measures have been imposed.

Heavy drone activity is being reported in border areas - Jammu and Samba and Punjab's Pathankot. These drones from Pakistan are being intercepted by the forces.

Heavy drone activity is being reported in the Jammu-Nagrota region and at least two explosions have been reported in Jammu. Blackout has been imposed in many parts along the LoC and the border area.

A blackout has been imposed in Rajasthan's Jaisalmer. These are precautionary measures being imposed in border areas. Last night, explosions were heard in the region.

Drone activity was reported in Jammu, along with two explosions in the region. Blackout has been imposed in many parts including Srinagar and sirens could be heard.

India's former top diplomat Ruchira Kamboj has demolished Pakistan's lies on the global stage that it has no connection with terror attacks in India.

Ms Kamboj, the former permanent representative and ambassador of India to the United Nations, told NDTV today that Pakistan stood exposed "before the full glare of the international media" as the sponsor and enabler of terrorism.

"At the very outset, Pakistan has made India's task simpler by openly admitting before the full glare of the international media that they are the financiers, perpetrators and abettors of terrorism," she said.

Ms Kamboj's comments come as Indian diplomats and the leadership engaged in hectic communication with the global community at the United Nations to inform them of Pakistan's hand in state-sponsored terrorism.

"In the recent [informal] meeting of the UN Security Council, Pakistan did not get any support. On the contrary they were grilled at the meeting, and the question of accountability was raised. Nobody believed in Pakistan's narrative," she told NDTV, explaining India's huge win at the UN.

According to sources, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met a group of armed forces veterans today. He had an extensive interaction with the veterans on various issues on the current situation 

This included former Air Force Chiefs, Army Chiefs, Navy Chiefs and other veterans who have extensively served the country.

Peoples Conference Chairman Sajad Gani Lone has invited all those who were affected by shelling in J&K's Kupwara to stay at his office-cum-residence at Handwara. 

Given the prevailing situation at the international border, the Telangana government on Friday announced the establishment of a 24x7 control room in the national capital.

The control room has been set up at Telangana Bhavan in New Delhi to provide timely assistance, information, and support to residents of the state currently living in border areas, an official release said.

The facility will operate around the clock to ensure uninterrupted support, it said.

The control room can be reached via landline at 011-23380556. All concerned individuals are encouraged to reach out as needed, the release added

Amid the escalation of tensions with Pakistan and indiscriminate firing from the neighbouring country across the Line of Control (LoC), Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri on Friday said that the services of the Kartarpur Sahib Corridor have been suspended until further notice.

"In light of the current security situation, the services of the Kartarpur Sahib Corridor have been suspended until further directions," Mr Misri said while addressing a joint press briefing in the national capital.

The Kartarpur Corridor links Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Pakistan, the final resting place of the founder of Sikhism, Guru Nanak Dev, to the Dera Baba Nanak shrine in Punjab's Gurdaspur district. The visa-free 4.7-kilometre-long corridor connects the Indian border to Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Pakistan. It became operational in 2019.

After the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, India has shut its side of the Kartarpur Corridor.

In the special briefing today, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri talked about the connection between the strikes on Jaish-e-Muhammed headquarters in Pakistan and the murder of Wall Street Journal journalist Daniel Pearl in 2002.

Bahawalpur, located in Pakistan's Punjab province, is the headquarters of Jaish-e-Muhammed, a designated terrorist outfit run by Maulana Masood Azhar. The terrorist was behind the 26/11 Mumbai terrorist attack, the Pulwama attacks, and the 2001 Parliament attack. The group is also behind the killing of Wall Street Journal journalist Daniel Pearl, who was beheaded in 2002 in Pakistan while covering a story on the links between Al Qaeda and Pakistan in the aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attacks in the US.

Mr Misri answered a question on the link between Bahawalpur and Daniel Pearl, to which he said, "Bahawalpur is the headquarters of Jaish-e-Muhammed, a terrorist group, proscribed terrorist group by the United Nations...Jaish was directly or indirectly involved in the killing of Daniel Pearl, but the real connection is through Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh, a British-Pakistani jihadi, who was arrested in India and later released...and these are all connected figures, individuals."

Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang has announced measures to tackle any problem arising because of the prevailing situation along the Pakistan border in India's north and west, and also said the state will assess its preparedness for any potential crisis.

Mr Tamang said, "I convened a high-level meeting today attended by the Political Secretary to Chief Minister Shri Jacob Khaling, Cabinet Secretary Shri V.B. Pathak, Chief Secretary Shri R. Telang, Director General of Police (DGP) Shri Akshay Sachdeva and Heads of Departments (HODs) including officials from Health, Power, Food & Civil Supplies, Roads & Bridges, Land & Revenue departments, Sikkim Police and DCs & SPs of all districts."

The Chief Minister issued directives to every department. The Power Department must conduct emergency drills and raise public awareness on blackout preparedness.

The indigenously developed Akash missile system was instrumental in neutralising missiles and drones and protecting cities in west India when Pakistan attacked Thursday night.

The Akash system - a surface-to-air system designed to engage multiple targets simultaneously - was developed over 15 years by Dr Prahlada Ramarao, a former DRDO scientist.

"It is the happiest day of life... seeing my baby work so accurately and beautifully in shooting down incoming enemy aerial targets," an elated Dr Ramarao told NDTV. He said he had tears in his eyes when he saw "it worked beyond expectations... engaging incoming targets effectively".

Now 78 years old, he was the youngest Project Director for the Akash programme when he was handpicked by India's 'missile man' and former President Dr APJ Abdul Kalam. 

In the wake of escalating tension between India and Pakistan, the Chandigarh administration has issued various guidelines for the public, including familiarising them with the emergency siren signals.

Chandigarh Deputy Commissioner (DC) Nishant Kumar Yadav issued an order on Friday, directing that all shopping malls, cinemas, restaurants, clubs and shops (except medical stores) shall remain closed from 7 pm on May 9 till 6 am on May 10.

The DC also issued an order prohibiting the bursting of any kind of fireworks, firecrackers or the like by the public during marriages, religious festivals and celebrations or any other kind of activities in the jurisdiction of UT Chandigarh.

This order shall remain in force from May 9 and shall be effective till July 7.

The noise made by such firecrackers can create panic amongst the public and may lead to deterioration of the law and order situation, according to the order.

Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri on Friday condemned the May 8 attacks by Pakistan targeting multiple locations in India, including Amritsar, dismissing as "preposterous and outrageous" the claim by Islamabad that India was attacking its own territories.

He also condemned Pakistan's attempt to spread disinformation about a drone strike on the Nankana Sahib Gurdwara, calling it a blatant lie.

Addressing a press briefing on Friday, Mr Misri said, "Instead of owning up to its actions, Pakistan made the preposterous and outrageous claims that it is the Indian armed forces that are targeting its own cities like Amritsar and trying to blame Pakistan."

"That we would attack our ciites is the kind of deranged fantasy that only the Pakistani state can come up with, perhaps they do it because they are well versed in as their histroy would show," he said.

"Pakistan spread disinformation that India targeted the Nankama Sahib Gurdwara through a drone attack, which is yet another blatant lie... Pakistan is trying desperately to impart a communal hue to the situation with an intention to create a communal discord...," the Foreign Secretary said.

Government watchdog CCPA has issued notices to 13 e-commerce players like Amazon and Flipkart for illegal sale of walkie-talkie devices on their platforms amid rising India-Pakistan tensions.

In an official statement on Friday, the government said the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has issued 13 notices to leading digital marketplaces against the illegal listing and sale of walkie-talkies on e-commerce platforms.

These platforms are Amazon, Flipkart, Meesho, OLX, TradeIndia, Facebook, Indiamart, VardaanMart, Jiomart, Krishnamart, Chimiya, Talk Pro Walie Talkie and MaskMan toys.

The crackdown focuses on the sale of walkie-talkies without proper frequency disclosure, licensing information, or Equipment Type Approval (ETA), constituting a violation of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019.

Amid India-Pakistan military conflict, Odisha has tightened security along its coast and around key installations such as the missile testing centre in Chandipur and the Jagannath temple in Puri, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi said.

Both the defence facility and the 12th-century shrine are near the coastline.

Though the coastal state is far from the Pakistan border, there is a threat perception from the Bay of Bengal, Mr Majhi said.

The Odisha government, in collaboration with the Centre, has taken all steps to protect vital installations in the state, the Chief Minister said.

"In the case of Odisha, there is no such threat from Pakistan. However, we have some key installations like the missile testing range at Chandipur, the Puri temple and other places which could be potential targets through water route in the Bay of Bengal. Coastal security is therefore tightened," he said.

The government today accused Pakistan of "targeting places of worship" In India and said several "gurudwaras, convents and temples" along the border in Jammu and Kashmir were damaged by Pakistani shelling.

"We have seen the Pakistani side targeting and shelling the places of worship with a particular design. It included Gurudwaras, convents and temples. This is a new low even for Pakistan," said Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri in a joint briefing with Colonel Sofiya Qureshi and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh.

In a first since the Pahalgam terror attack, Pakistan on Friday violated ceasefire during the day across Line of Control. The Indian Army responded in equal measure, sources said.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman reviewed the banking sector operational, cybersecurity preparedness in view of India-Pakistan tension on Friday. She has asked banks to remain fully alert to deal with any crisis and ensure uninterrupted banking services.

Actor Kamal Haasan, today, rescheduled the audio launch for his upcoming film Thug Life, scheduled for 16 May amid a state of heightened alert in the country. 

The actor said, "As our soldiers stand firm on the frontlines with unflinching courage in defence of our motherland, I believe it is a time for quiet solidarity, not celebration." The actor said the revised date for the film, directed by Mani Ratnam, will be announced later. He added that "As citizens, it is our duty to respond with restraint and solidarity." 

In the backdrop of the ongoing military conflict between India and Pakistan, a senior official in the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Friday said "we should remain hopeful" that the existing situation does not escalate.

Secretary (Economic Relations) in the MEA, Dammu Ravi, said this in response to a query during an event on the impact of any conflict on the economy and the resilience required in such matters, especially in view of the current scenario.

"Security, development and economic growth are highly inter-linked concepts around the world. So, in a conflict situation, the industry will naturally recoil, and keep on one side and take time for the situation to improve," Mr Ravi said.

"We should remain hopeful that the existing conflict does not escalate, and subsides," he said, without naming any country.

The Congress' Uttarakhand unit held a Tiranga Yatra to express solidarity with the armed forces and the Centre's actions against Pakistan-sponsored terrorism.

The entire country stands firmly behind the Indian Army, said Pradesh Congress Committee president Karan Mahara, who led the Tiranga Yatra (Tricolour March) from the party's state headquarters at Rajpur Road to Darshan Lal Chawk.

The march concluded with Mahara and other Congress leaders garlanding a statue of BR Ambedkar.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi have already announced the entire party stands firmly with the central government and the armed forces, keeping aside all differences in this matter of national security, he said.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis chaired a high-level security review meeting in Mumbai on Friday to assess the state's preparedness and coordination across agencies as the India-Pakistan tension escalated this week to the worst in nearly three decades.  

The meeting brought together top officials from the police, municipal administration, disaster management and state administration to reinforce security and instil public confidence.

Reviewing the current threat landscape, the Chief Minister stressed that Maharashtra, especially Mumbai, remains vigilant and well-prepared. "Whether it is the police, whether it's the Coast Guard or the Navy, everyone is on alert. There are regular exercises and SOPs are in place," he stated, underlining the government's proactive stance.

The Chief Minister issued a comprehensive set of instructions aimed at enhancing readiness at all levels. Districts across the state have been asked to conduct full-scale security drills, and dedicated war rooms will be set up to ensure seamless coordination during emergencies.

While Pakistan was attempting, and failing, to strike military installations in India using missiles and drones for the second night running, the Indian armed forces launched drones at four sites in the country and destroyed an air defence radar. This marks the second successful hit on an air defence system in Pakistan in as many days

Addressing a Ministry of External Affairs-Ministry of Defence Press Conference on Friday, Wing Commander Vyomika Singh said that on the intervening night of Thursday and Friday, the Pakistani military carried out multiple violations of Indian airspace along the western border with the intent to target military infrastructure. 

Drone intrusions, she said, were attempted at 36 locations from Leh to Sir Creek in Gujarat with 300-400 drones, many of which were brought down by the Indian Armed Forces. 

"The possible purpose of these large-scale aerial intrusions was to test air defence systems and gather intelligence," the Wing Commander said. 

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) convenor Arvind Kejriwal has cancelled his visit to Goa in the light of the military conflict between India and Pakistan, party leader Amit Palekar said on Friday.

Addressing a press conference, Mr Palekar, the party's Goa unit president, said Mr Kejriwal has conveyed that he will not be able to visit the coastal state as he would be busy with high-level meetings in Punjab.

"As you all know, the AAP has its government in Punjab and several districts of the state border Pakistan. Incidents of shelling have been reported in these areas," he said.

The Gujarat government on Friday imposed a ban on the use of drones and firecrackers till May 15 in light of the military conflict between India and Pakistan.

The government also warned of taking strict action against those social media users who "spread anti-national sentiments".

"No firecrackers or drones will be allowed in any functions or events until the 15th of this month. Kindly cooperate and follow the guidelines," Gujarat Minister of State for Home Harsh Sanghavi said in a post on X.

Earlier in the day, Mr Sanghavi chaired a meeting with state police officials through video conference in Gandhinagar.

The meeting was attended by state Director General of Police (DGP) Vikas Sahay, Intelligence Bureau officials, Police Commissioners, Range Inspector Generals, district superintendents of police and cyber crime officials, an official release said.

On the ongoing India-Pakistan tension, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav said: "We have full faith in the Indian Army, it has taught a lesson to Pakistan multiple times and divided it into two parts (Bangladesh and Pakistan). The Indian Government called an all-party meeting, and in that too, the Opposition expressed solidarity... We stand with whatever decision the army and government take. We want terrorism and separatism uprooted from the country. We will support whatever they do for this." 

Kolkata's Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port has enhanced its security protocols and operational vigilance in the wake of the ongoing military conflict with Pakistan, port officials said.

Security was stepped up following directives from the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways and the Directorate General of Shipping.

A high-level security review meeting was virtually conducted by the secretary of the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, T K Ramachandran, with all the port officials.

All service chiefs are at Prime Minister Narendra Modi's residence for a high-level meeting, sources said.

The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) on Friday continued to feel the effects of the ongoing conflict in the region with equity investors said to have suffered 820 billion rupees in losses in the last three days, PTI reported.

The market opened, like the last three days, to conflicting sentiments but by close, had recovered more than 700 points.

The benchmark KSE-100 index climbed 799.65, or 0.77 per cent, to stand at 1,04,326.46 from the previous close of 1,03,526.81 at 11:06 am.

The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) has deferred all transfer and posting orders and has postponed training courses for its personnel in view of the escalating military situation with Pakistan, sources on Friday said.

The paramilitary force has also directed more than two dozen of its companies, comprising about 2,400 personnel, to be moved to Jammu and Kashmir for "bolstering" security of the border areas along with the BSF and the Army, they said.

Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said areas bordering Punjab's Pathankot are on high alert, and police have been directed to issue special instructions to blackout border areas in Himachal Pradesh's Nurpur and Indora when air raid warning sirens are blown.

Mr Sukhu held a meeting with the officials and district heads and said, "There is nothing to panic but we should ensure our safety and fulfil our responsibility and stay alert".

He also appealed to the general public to believe only official information.

Talking to reporters, he said offices of chief secretary, general administration department and control rooms would remain open to assist people and act promptly in times of need.

Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has directed officials to be prepared to assist farmers in bordering states with sowing operations to ensure that they do not face difficulties due to the ongoing conflict between India and Pakistan.

During a review meeting held at Krishi Bhavan in Delhi, Mr Chouhan said he would speak with the chief ministers of bordering states like Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab regarding requirements in case villages need evacuation.

"Villages are often evacuated during conflict. We are assessing which crops are currently sown there, so we can keep seeds and planting material ready," he said in a statement.

The government will address farmers' needs if sowing is delayed, he added.

The morale of soldiers is high and the Indian Army is ready to deal with any situation, Jammu & Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha said on Friday after visiting villages affected by Pakistani shelling in the Uri sector.

The Jammu & Kashmir administration is ensuring that people in Uri do not face any inconvenience, he added.

"Attempts were made (to attack) but the morale of the forces is very high and they are ready to deal with any situation," Mr Sinha told reporters in Baramulla.

"I went to villages in the border areas that suffered losses. The injured and the families of those who died have been granted ex-gratia. The losses are being ascertained," he said.

A large number of workers from other states working in J&K's Samba have started moving to safer places, after heavy cross-border shelling and attempted drone and missile attacks by Pakistan on Thursday night.

Amid escalating tensions between India and Pakistan, Union Food and Consumer Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi on Friday warned traders, wholesalers and retailers against hoarding of essential food items and asserted that the government has ample stocks.

"Don't believe in propaganda messages regarding food stocks in the country. We have ample food stocks, far exceeding required norms. DONT PAY HEED TO SUCH MESSAGES," he said in a social media post.