Amid rising tensions between India and Pakistan, the Indian government has reportedly issued "urgent directives" to telecom operators such as Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel, and others, emphasising the need to maintain uninterrupted communication services, especially in border regions. This comes after areas near the Line of Control (LoC) witnessed cross-border fire, as well as missile and drone attacks, in Jammu and Kashmir, Rajasthan, and Punjab.
According to CNBC-TV18, officials conveyed to telecom service providers that ensuring seamless connectivity is critical for national security. All major operators have reportedly assured the government of their readiness and agreed to deploy emergency protocols as needed.
Telecom companies have also been directed to maintain an updated list of critical infrastructure, particularly in areas located within 100 kilometres of the international border.
The government has stressed the importance of keeping telecom towers and transceiver stations operational in sensitive areas. Telcos have also been instructed to provide communication facilities immediately upon request from the Ministry of Defence.
Operators have been asked to ensure sufficient fuel supply and the availability of diesel generator (DG) sets to guarantee power for telecom infrastructure during any disruptions, the broadcaster added in its report. Telcos have also been instructed to set up dedicated war rooms to plan for contingencies and report their preparedness levels to the government promptly.
Last night, ANI reported that two Pakistani drones were shot down by Indian Army Air Defence Units in the Naushera sector of Jammu and Kashmir at midnight. It also reported heavy exchange of artillery fire on between the two sides in the sector.
"Military stations at Jammu, Pathankot & Udhampur were targeted by Pakistani-origin #drones and missiles along the International Border in J&K today," the defence ministry tweeted.
Earlier in the evening, Pakistan launched an attempted strike on multiple Indian military installations across the northern and western regions, including Jammu, Pathankot, Amritsar and Jalandhar. However, the attack was successfully thwarted as India's integrated air defence system intercepted the incoming missiles and drones before they could cause any damage.
