🇮🇳 India Flexes Military Muscle: Air Force to Conduct War Games Near Pakistan Border Amid Tensions

The drills come in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack, with India ramping up both military readiness and civil defence across nearly 300 districts nationwide.

May 6, 2025: New Delhi – In a decisive show of strength, the Indian Air Force will conduct large-scale military drills along the international border with Pakistan, amid escalating tensions over the recent Pahalgam terror attack that claimed 26 lives. According to a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) issued on Tuesday, the exercises will be held in Rajasthan from 9 pm Wednesday to 3 am Thursday, leading to a temporary suspension of air traffic at nearby airports.

Also Read: Pakistan Alleges India Choked Chenab River Flow, Warns of Crop Crisis Amid Indus Treaty Suspension

The drills coincide with a nationwide civil defence mobilisation — the most extensive since the 1971 war with Pakistan — across nearly 300 strategic locations, including key metros like Delhi. These sites include oil refineries, nuclear installations, and armed forces bases, with drills encompassing fire alarms, evacuation protocols, and air raid sirens.

Also Read: Centre Orders Security Drills Nationwide Amid Rising Indo-Pak Tensions — First Since 1971

Government on High Alert

The developments come just hours after Prime Minister Narendra Modi held his second consecutive meeting with National Security Advisor Ajit Doval. The Prime Minister has also met with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and the Chiefs of the Army, Navy, and Air Force multiple times since the Pahalgam attack.

Sources indicate PM Modi has granted the military “complete freedom” to prepare and implement a strategic response.

Missile Tests on Both Sides

Tensions further flared on Monday when Pakistan test-fired its Fatah surface-to-surface missile with a range of 120 km, as part of its “Exercise INDUS” military drills. This was Pakistan’s second missile test in 48 hours and was widely seen as a provocation following India’s suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty.

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India, on the other hand, has also demonstrated military preparedness. It recently tested an indigenously developed underwater mine capable of detecting acoustic, magnetic, and pressure signals — along with a series of missile tests last month, five days after the Pahalgam carnage.

Backdrop: Pahalgam Terror Attack and Diplomatic Fallout

The April 22 attack in Pahalgam, executed by four militants from The Resistance Front — a proxy of Lashkar-e-Taiba — killed 26 people, including tourists and a Nepali national. India has presented evidence of Pakistan’s involvement and taken significant diplomatic steps, including:

• Suspension of the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty (IWT)
• Cancellation of visas for Pakistani nationals
• Closure of airspace and border crossings

In response, Pakistan also cancelled Indian visas and suspended the 1972 Simla Agreement.

PM Modi’s Message to Terrorists

Addressing the nation and international community, PM Modi had warned, “Evil will never succeed,” promising to hunt down the perpetrators and their handlers. “This government will not rest until justice is done,” he declared.

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Tags:
India Pakistan War Games, IAF Drills Rajasthan, Pahalgam Attack, Modi Doval Meeting, India Pakistan Tensions, Indus Waters Treaty, Civil Defence Drill India, Pakistan Missile Test, Lashkar-e-Taiba, Indian Military Response, PahalgamTerrorAttack,