India-Pakistan News Highlights: Delhi on High Alert, Security Heightened Near India Gate

Pakistani drones intercepted by Indian air defence in Jaisalmer. Explosions can be heard, and flashes in the sky can be seen.

A complete blackout has been enforced in Jalandhar, Punjab

Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma held a high-level meeting at the Chief Minister's residence today evening regarding the tension that arose on the border. Chief Secretary, Home Secretary, Director General of Police, DG Intelligence and ADG Law and Order attended the meeting.

A complete blackout has been enforced in Udhampur, Jammu and Kashmir.

The Delhi government on Thursday cancelled leaves of all its employees till further orders due to escalating hostilities between India and Pakistan, an official said.

No leave will be granted to any official of Delhi government till further orders given the prevailing situation and preparedness for any emergency, said an order issued late evening by the Services Department of the government.

"Sounds of shelling and firing can be heard. Smoke was seen in the sky. There is a complete blackout. We have full faith in our army," says a resident of Jammu.

As per Defence sources quoted by ANI, Pakistan launched 8 missiles at Satwari, Samba, RS Pura and Arnia sector, All intercepted by Indian Air Defence units.

The IPL match between Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals here on Thursday was called off due to security reasons following air raid alerts in nearby areas, which forced a blackout in the hill town.

The Punjab side was 122 for 1 in 10.1 overs when the lights went out which at first was attributed to floodlight failure.

Union Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday met the chiefs of all three armed forces.

Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh: People chant 'Pakistan murdabad' slogans as IPL match between Delhi Capitals and Kings XI Punjab called off after Pakistan launched missiles and drones into India, which were intercepted and neutralised by India's air defence system.

Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff tweets, "Military Stations of Jammu, Pathankot and Udhampur in proximity to the International Boundary, in Jammu & Kashmir targeted by Pakistan using missiles and drones. No losses. Threat neutralised by Indian Armed Forces as per SoP with kinetic & non-kinetic means."

Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) instructed all airlines and airports across the country to enhance security measures. All passengers at all airports will undergo Secondary Ladder Point Check (SLPC). Visitor entry to terminal buildings has been banned. Air Marshal will be deployed accordingly: Ministry of Civil Aviation Sources. (ANI)

A complete blackout has been enforced in Rajouri in Jammu and Kashmir.

EAM Dr S Jaishankar tweets, "Spoke with US Secretary Marco Rubio this evening. Deeply appreciate US commitment to work with India in the fight against terrorism. Underlined India’s targeted and measured response to cross-border terrorism. Will firmly counter any attempts at escalation."

Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma on Thursday held a high-level meeting and gave instructions to immediately release Rs 5 crore each for the border districts of Barmer, Jaisalmer, Bikaner and Sriganganagar.

According to an official statement, special instructions for the border districts were issued after he spoke with the concerned district collectors (DCs) and superintendents of police (SPs).

He also instructed to cancel the leaves of all government employees of the state.

 Amid escalating tensions between India and Pakistan, many states have announced the closure of schools, blackouts in border districts, and cancellation of leave of police personnel and administration officials.

The stringent measures were taken by Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Delhi, Gujarat, West Bengal and Bihar after India struck terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan Occupied Kashmir in retaliation for the April 22 Pahalgam massacre that killed 26 people.

A blackout was enforced across the Kashmir Valley, including here, late on Thursday evening, and sirens were heard at a few places, sources said.

As the area plunged into darkness, police asked people to stay home and switch off all lights.

India launched strikes on Islamabad, Pakistan’s capital, following the interception of multiple attempted attacks on Indian cities such as Jammu, Jaisalmer, and Pathankot. In parallel, Indian artillery targeted the Sialkot-Bajwat sector, which drew a military response from the Pakistan Army, according to media reports.

Ministry of Defence tweets, "Military stations at Jammu, Pathankot & Udhampur were targeted by Pakistani-origin drones and missiles along the International Border in J&K today. 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. India remains fully prepared to defend its sovereignty and ensure the safety of its people."

EAM Dr S Jaishankar spoke with Italy's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Antonio Tajani "Discussed India’s targeted and measured response to firmly counter terrorism. Any escalation will see a strong response," tweeted EAM Jaishankar

A high alert was sounded in Delhi, and all city government employees' leaves were cancelled as hostilities ramped up between India and Pakistan, with several border areas, including Jammu, coming under cross-border shelling.

District magistrates in the national capital are holding meetings with their subordinates to review health and disaster management preparedness in case of any emergency, officials said.

"Police will stay alert and will keep active. Night vigil has been intensified. We will deploy extra force in every sensitive area," a police officer said.

A Pakistani pilot has been captured alive by Indian forces in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, according to intelligence sources. Further details are awaited, journalist Aditya Raj Kaul reported on X.

Air India tweets, "In view of an order by the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security on enhanced measures at airports, passengers across India are advised to arrive at their respective airports at least three hours prior to scheduled departure to ensure smooth check-in and boarding. Check-in closes 75 mins before departure."

On Pakistan drones and missiles intercepted in different parts of our border states, former J&K DGP SP Vaid says, "Today evening after 8:20 pm, we have witnessed around 50-60 air attacks over Jammu, Udhampur, Rajouri, Pathankot, Samba, and Akhnoor. All these attacks have been neutralised and made ineffective. Compliments to the impregnable air defence system... There is no report of any damage despite such a massive attack by Pakistan. It appears to be a full-fledged war by Pakistan and a befitting reply needs to be given by our three services. Pakistan's days are numbered... Pakistan will soon be divided into five parts..."

Akasa Air issues travel advisory. Tweets, "Due to enhanced security measures at all airports across India, we request you to reach the airport at least 3 hours prior to departure, to ensure a seamless check-in and boarding experience. Please ensure you carry valid government-approved photo identification documents for entry to the airport. In addition to your check-in baggage, only one handbag weighing upto 7 kgs will be permitted. As per regulatory guidelines, all passengers will be required to undergo secondary security checks before boarding..."

Union Home Minister Amit Shah speaks with the Director Generals of border guarding forces to take stock of the border situation. He also speaks to the CISF DG regarding airport security.

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Thursday reviewed a demonstration of quick response vehicles, or QRVs, capable of navigating in narrow streets for firefighting, at the Delhi Secretariat.

Gupta said these compact QRVs can play a crucial role in firefighting in congested areas.

The QRV is equipped with fire suppression systems, water mist, and foam systems, suitable for handling small- to medium-scale fires. It comes with vital rescue equipment such as cutters, spreaders, fire extinguishers, and a rescue kit.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday, urging Islamabad to take definitive action against terrorist groups. Emphasizing the urgency of de-escalation, Rubio reaffirmed U.S. support for direct dialogue between India and Pakistan and encouraged sustained efforts to enhance communication channels, according to an official readout of the call.

Social media platform X has started blocking more than 8,000 accounts in India in response to executive orders issued by the Indian government, the company confirmed. The action follows government warnings of heavy fines and potential jail time for X’s local staff if the directives were not enforced.

 A 20-year-old man here has been arrested for displaying Pakistan flag as his WhatsApp display picture on Thursday, police said.

The arrested accused has been identified as Dilshad, a resident of Ruknpur village under the Bhawanpur police station limits.

Dilshad was taken into custody on Wednesday when local residents took up the matter with the police who were present in the village for a mock drill.

A Pakistani Air Force jet has been shot down in the Pathankot sector by Indian air defence, multiple sources tell ANI. More details awaited. Official government confirmation awaited.

Press Information Bureau tweets, "Fake News Alert! Social media posts are claiming that entry to airports across India banned. This claim is FAKE. The government has taken no such decision..."

Saudi Arabia's deputy foreign minister Adel al-Jubeir landed in Delhi on Thursday to meet India's top leadership with a focus on de-escalating tensions between India and Pakistan.

Al-Jubeir, on an unannounced visit to New Delhi, is learnt to have carried a message from the Saudi leadership.

The Saudi minister held talks with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and discussed the situation that has developed since India's military strikes on terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir early Wednesday.

The airline tweets, "In light of enhanced security measures across all airports, passengers are advised to arrive at the airport at least 3 hours prior to departure to ensure a smooth check-in and boarding process."

The airline tweets, "In these extraordinary times, heightened security measures are taken up across all airports. We request you to allow some extra time for your journey to accommodate security checks and formalities. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation."

According to media reports, several blasts have been reported from Karachi's Habour.

Everyone in the vicinity of India Gate in Delhi has been asked to vacate the area amid ongoing Pakistani air strikes. Authorities say this is a standard precautionary measure due to its proximity to Raisina Hill.

Pakistan targets civilian areas in Uri sector. Visuals outside a hotel where Pakistani shells dropped.

Two Pakistani drones shot down by Indian Army Air Defence Units in Naushera sector of Jammu and Kashmir. Heavy exchange of artillery fire on between the two sides in the sector: Defence Sources. (ANI)

US State Department Spokesperson Tammy Bruce says, "This morning Secretary Marco Rubio spoke with Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif and EAM Dr S Jaishankar. In both calls, the Secretary emphasised the need for immediate de-escalation and called for an end to the violence. He expressed US support for direct dialogue between India and Pakistan and encouraged continued efforts to improve communications."

A complete blackout has been enforced in Chandigarh.

Delhi Airport issues travel advisory. Operations remain normal. Some flights are impacted due to changing airspace conditions and heightened security. Passengers are advised to check with their airline for the latest updates.

US State Department Spokesperson Tammy Bruce says, "...The real focus of the Secretary of State is that this should not escalate. This has been a key framework. This has been an issue for decades and with what we saw over the last few weeks, after the terrorist attack. It was not surprising but very, very disappointing. It should not escalate and communication was fundamentally key that there should be talks, there should not be silence, and that America was at the center of this in speaking with a variety of leaders of both countries over the last two days..."

US State Department Spokesperson Tammy Bruce says, "There's some discussion that Pakistan wants an independent investigation as to what has happened regarding the terrorist attack. We want the perpetrators to be held accountable and are supportive of any efforts to that end...We continue to urge India and Pakistan to work towards a responsible solution in this. We also want to say that what matters in this particular instance right now is that the phone calls happened and we are remaining engaged with both governments at multiple levels. We will not engage in the nature of discussing what the conversations have been or what we've conveyed..."

Pakistani drones were sighted in Bathinda, which have been neutralised by Indian forces, as reported by PTI.

Security has been heightened around India Gate in view of Pakistan's failed attempts to attack locations along western border.

India likely to urge IMF to exercise caution on bailout package to Pakistan. (PTI)

Jalandhar Rural DSP Vijay Kumar says, "We received information that the people had heard some noise. We came here but found nothing. We request that people stay away from rumours. Don't touch anything that may seem suspicious and inform the police about it. We request that people stay inside their homes and not panic; our army is capable of everything..."

At around 11:00 pm on May 8, 2025, the Border Security Force (BSF) successfully thwarted a major infiltration attempt along the International Border in Jammu and Kashmir’s Samba district, HT reported.

Pakistan foreign ministry denies reports about Pakistan launching attacks on Pathankot, Jaisalmer, and Srinagar, the statement read.

The local administrations in Ludhiana and Mohali have decided to restore the power supply after consultations with defence authorities, says a News18 report.

The Indian Navy has started a retaliatory operation after Pakistan tried to attack India, according to NDTV reports.

Bookings made on or before 8th May 2025 are eligible for change/cancellation fee waiver for travel until 22nd May 2025 to and from Srinagar, Jammu, Amritsar, Leh, Chandigarh, Dharamshala, Bikaner, Jodhpur, Kishangarh & Rajkot: IndiGo

The Indian Air Force reportedly deployed the Russian-made S-400 air defence missile systems—also dubbed "Sudarshan Chakra"—to neutralise a Pakistani attack on the night of May 7.

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IPL chairman Arun Dhumal on Thursday said government directives are being awaited before deciding on whether to continue with the league amid the military clash with Pakistan but Friday's match between Lucknow Super Giants and Royal Challengers Bengaluru "is on as of now".

The league's continuation is in serious doubt after Thursday's match between Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals in Dharamsala was called off midway following air raid alerts in nearby cities of Jammu and Pathankot.