New Delhi | May 7, 2025: In a powerful show of strength amid heightened tensions with Pakistan, the Indian Air Force is set to conduct large-scale military exercises near the international border in Rajasthan on Wednesday night. The move comes just weeks after a deadly terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam claimed the lives of 26 civilians.
A Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) issued on Tuesday confirmed the exercise will commence at 9:30 pm on May 7 and continue for approximately five and a half hours, during which airspace near the border will be temporarily restricted. Civil flights at airports near the western frontier will remain suspended during the operation.
This air exercise is widely seen as a direct signal of India’s preparedness and resolve, coming on the heels of repeated warnings from New Delhi to Islamabad over its alleged support for terrorist outfits operating across the border.
Nationwide Civil Defence Drills Underway
Coinciding with the IAF operations, India has launched extensive civil defence drills across nearly 300 locations, including the national capital Delhi. These include fire response drills, air raid sirens, and evacuation simulations, reminiscent of civil defence practices not seen since the 1971 Indo-Pak war.
Civil defence zones include strategic assets like oil refineries, nuclear plants, and military bases. The drills are designed to prepare citizens and emergency services for potential external aggression.
PM Modi Holds Multiple Security Briefings
Prime Minister Narendra Modi held his second meeting in two days with National Security Advisor Ajit Doval on Tuesday, amid mounting speculation of an impending military response. Modi has also been in frequent consultation with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, and the chiefs of the Army, Navy, and Air Force.
According to sources, the Prime Minister has granted the armed forces “complete freedom” to formulate and execute a robust response to the Pahalgam attack, where four terrorists, allegedly from Pakistan-backed The Resistance Front, killed 26 people, including a Nepali national.
India-Pakistan Relations at Boiling Point
In a significant diplomatic move last month, India suspended the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), drastically reducing water flow to Pakistan’s farmlands. Pakistan termed the action “an act of war” and responded by suspending the 1972 Simla Agreement. Both countries have since revoked each other’s visas, sealed land border crossings, and closed their airspaces to one another.
Missile Testing Ramps Up on Both Sides
Amid this tense backdrop, both countries have escalated their military posturing with missile tests:
- On Monday, Pakistan test-fired its domestically built Fatah surface-to-surface missile with a 120 km range during Exercise INDUS.
- India responded with a successful trial of the Multi-Influence Ground Mine (MIGM)—an advanced underwater mine designed by DRDO and Indian Navy with sensors capable of detecting ships via acoustic, magnetic, and pressure signatures.
India had earlier conducted missile tests just five days after the Pahalgam attack, underlining its military readiness and technological advancements.
A Warning to Terrorists: ‘Evil Will Never Succeed’
In a stern message to terror outfits and their backers, PM Modi declared that “terrorism’s evil agenda can never succeed.” His speech, delivered partly in English to reach a global audience, emphasized that India will not rest until the perpetrators and their handlers face justice.
“Those behind the attack will be hunted down. We are telling the whole world—we will not let terror win,” Modi said.
As the region braces for further developments, the situation between India and Pakistan remains extremely volatile. With both nuclear-armed nations engaging in military drills, suspending treaties, and exchanging strong rhetoric, diplomatic channels are strained—making global mediation efforts more crucial than ever.
