India-Pakistan highlights: Schools in Punjab districts bordering Pakistan to open on Wednesday

NCP(SP) chief Sharad Pawar on Tuesday told reporters that his party is against calling a special session of the Parliament on the India-Pakistan conflict.

He said, "We are against calling the special session of the Parliament, it is a sensitive, confidential issue, it is difficult. But when such situation arises, discussions happen. Some things need to be kept confidential. Hence I said that they can call the session, but a meeting among ourselves would be more feasible."

Schools in Jammu and Kashmir's Katra also reopened on Tuesday as situation in the region remained peaceful following the ceasefire understanding between India and Pakistan.

Situation in Rajasthan's Barmer on Tuesday morning seemed normal as people went about their every day business, visuals from the district showed. Barmer reported no drone sighting, firing or shelling overnight.

BJP MP Jagdambika Pal lauded PM Modi's address to the nation on Operation Sindoor and said that a strong message had been sent to Pakistan that if any terror incident took place, then a befitting response would be given.

"PM Modi has given a message to the world that as per the agreement that has been made between India and Pakistan, if any incident of terrorism takes place in future, a befitting reply will be given to it and Pakistan has been clearly told that in future, if there will be any talks, then it will be only on ending terrorism on the issue of Pakistan Occupied Kashmir..." Pal told news agency ANI.

Shiv Sena leader Shaina NC hailed PM Modi's address on Operation Sindoor and asserted that India is a "mature democracy" that is fighting against terrorism and not attacking civilians.

"140 crore Indians have absolute faith in Prime Minister Modi and after hearing him speak where he says that no nuclear blackmail will be tolerated anymore, we have even more faith in him. Terrorist attacks on India have been given a befitting reply and the response has always been on our own terms...When the Prime Minister talks about the act of terror being the act of war, we have more faith in him, Army, Navy, Airforce. When the international world community questions us on terror, it is amply clear that India is a mature democracy that is fighting terrorism and not attacking civilian lives," Shaina NC told ANI on Monday.

Parliamentary Committee on External Affairs' chairman and Congress MP Shashi Tharoor said that foreign secretary Vikram Misri will brief the panel on the current situation with Pakistan on May 19, news agency PTI reported.

As ceasefire between India and Pakistan remains intact, schools in Jammu and Kashmir's Reasi reopened on Tuesday. Children were seen getting off buses, playing in the ground and sitting around in the school premises.

BJP leader Dilip Ghosh told news agency ANI, "Our stand on terrorism and Pakistan is clear. The Prime Minister has made everything clear and has given Pakistan a chance to improve... Our stand is clear that we will not be afraid of nuclear blackmail, and you cannot bow down to India by giving such threats."

Reacting to PM Modi's address to the nation after Operation Sindoor, BJD leader Amar Patnaik said, "We really salute the bravery and valour of our armed forces... Not only have they destroyed the terror infrastructure, they have also given a very strong message to the sponsor of terrorism, that is the state of Pakistan."

"Since the Operation Sindoor is still continuing, one thing is suffice to say, a strong message has been given to Pakistan and the terror infrastructure sponsored by them, as also to the terrorists, that wherever they are inside Pakistan, India is in a position to hit them and annihilate them," he told news agency ANI.

Maulana Khalid Rashid Farangi Mahali told news agency ANI, "... In very clear words, the Prime Minister has sent a message to the whole nation and the world, that terror and trade cannot go together and that talks and terror cannot go together... He also clearly said that India has taken revenge of the Pahalgam terror attack by targeting the terror camps in Pakistan and a number of terrorists have been killed in the army operations."

To mark the success of Operation Sindoor, the Bharatiya Janata Party is set to organize a 11-day long 'Tiranga Yatra' across the country, starting from Tuesday, May 13.

A BJP leader said that the party is looking to rally people, including prominent members of the society, around the Indian armed forces' successful operation from May 13 to 23.

The Congress on Monday questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi on US President Donald Trump's claims, asking if the operation against Pakistan was stopped due to trade obligations.

The party wondered if PM Modi had accepted American mediation on the Kashmir issue.

In a post on X, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said, “The prime minister, his drumbeaters, and his apologists should answer.”

"The prime minister's much-delayed address to the nation was completely upstaged by President Trump's revelations a few minutes earlier. The prime minister was completely silent on them. Has India agreed to US mediation? Has India agreed to a 'neutral site' for a dialogue with Pakistan? Will India give in to US demands for opening Indian markets in autos, agriculture, and other areas?" Ramesh asked.

Delhi BJP chief Virendra Sachdeva hailed PM Modi's Monday night address on Operation Sindoor and said that it sent a strong message to Pakistan that "terror and talks cannot go together".

Speaking to ANI, he said that the entire nation is standing with the prime minister and the armed forces.

"In his address, PM Modi saluted the valour and courage of our armed forces...PM Modi has given a clear message to Pakistan that terror and talks cannot go together... The entire nation is standing with PM Modi and the armed forces," the Delhi BJP president said.

Madhya Pradesh chief minister Mohan Yadav hailed PM Modi's leadership during Operation Sindoor and lauded the Indian Army's "tremendous resistance over the last five days".

"The way PM Modi has presented his entire stand in front of the country, we have seen India in the changing times; we have seen India grow from the number 11 economy to the number 5 economy," CM Yadav said.

"We have seen Article 370 being removed from the country, PM Modi has announced his new policy against terrorism, the world is watching India in the changing times and we all have seen the tremendous resistance that the Army has shown in the last 5 days under the leadership of PM Modi," he added.

IndiGo airlines on Tuesday announced cancellation of its flights for six locations.

"In light of the latest developments and with your safety as our utmost priority, flights to and from Jammu, Amritsar, Chandigarh, Leh, Srinagar, and Rajkot are cancelled for 13th May 2025," the airline said in a post on X.

It added, "We understand how this may disrupt your travel plans, and regret the inconvenience caused. Our teams are actively monitoring the situation and will promptly keep you informed of further updates. Before heading to the airport, please check your flight status on our website or app. If you need assistance, we're just a message or call away. and forever ready to help."

All schools and colleges in the non-border districts of Jammu and Kashmir will reopen on Tuesday after having remained closed for nearly a week amid the tension between India and Pakistan.

Education minister Sakina Ittoo in a post on X said, "All schools and colleges to reopen from tomorrow in non-border districts of Jammu as well as Kashmir."

Schools in the Punjab districts of Gurdaspur, Sangrur and Barnala will reopen on Tuesday, May 13, after being shut for nearly a week.

However, schools in the districts of Amritsar, Pathankot, Fazilka, Ferozepur and Tarn Taran, will remain shut.

Schools in the border areas of Punjab will remain closed on Tuesday, May 13, as a precautionary measure following the ceasefire between India and Pakistan, news agency PTI reported, citing officials on Monday.

The border areas include Amritsar, Pathankot, Fazilka, Ferozepur, and Tarn Taran.

They said that colleges and universities in Pathankot and Amritsar will remain shut on Tuesday, however officials in Amritsar said that online classes can be taken.

According to news agency ANI, the Indian Army on Tuesday said that no enemy drones have been reported on the nation's territory at present and the situation remains calm and completely under full control.

On Monday evening, shortly after PM Modi's address to the nation, 10-12 drones were spotted over Jammu and Kashmir's Samba. These were intercepted by the India's air defence systems. The Hoshiarpur administration in Punjab had also said that explosions were heard.

The Bharatiya Janata Party on Monday launched a communication outreach on Operation Sindoor, India’s military strike against terror camps in Pakistan, and the events that followed, culminating in a ceasefire on Saturday.

The party had stayed quiet during the operation itself. On Monday, people familiar with the matter said that with the ceasefire in place, and given not just the disinformation being pushed by the Pakistanis, but also the disappointment that some of the BJP’s core base has expressed in what they see as a premature end to the campaign, the time is right to launch an outreach.

The formal outreach began after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s address to the nation at 8pm in which he said, “ India will not tolerate any nuclear blackmail... India will strike precisely and decisively at terrorist hideouts.”

Tata Group-owned Air India announced the cancellation of two-way flight operations from select locations today, May 13, Tuesday. The move follows a similar announcement from IndiGo.

In an early morning post on X, Air India announced the cancellation of flights from Jammu, Leh, Jodhpur, Amritsar, Bhuj, Jamnagar, Chandigarh and Rajkot.

“In view of the latest developments and keeping your safety in mind, flights to and from Jammu, Leh, Jodhpur, Amritsar, Bhuj, Jamnagar, Chandigarh and Rajkot are cancelled for Tuesday, 13th May,” Air India's post read.

“We are monitoring the situation and will keep you updated. For more information, please call our Contact Centre on 011-69329333 / 011-69329999 or visit our website http://airindia.com,” the announcement added.

The directors general of military operations of India (Lt General Rajiv Ghai) and Pakistan spoke to each other over the hotline around 5 pm on Monday and discussed upholding the understanding reached two days ago to stop all military actions against each other.

They spoke for around 30 minutes in the evening, said people aware of developments.

They discussed that both sides “must not fire a single shot” or initiate any aggressive or inimical action against each other, the army said on Monday.

“It was also agreed that both sides consider immediate measures to ensure troop reduction from the borders and forward areas,” the army said in a statement.

Top officials at a special briefing on Operation Sindoor on Monday said that the Indian military's resilient, multi-tiered air defence (AD) network thwarted multiple waves of Pakistani attacks on scores of locations from May 7-10, and minimised damage to military infrastructure and civilian areas.

India’s military bases and systems are fully operational, and ready to undertake any mission, the officials said.

“Putting together and operationalisation of this potent AD environment has been possible over the last decade due to unwavering budgetary and policy support provided by government in acquiring state-of-the art equipment and weapon systems,” said Air Marshal AK Bharti, director general air operations.

Trade didn’t figure at all in recent discussions between top US and Indian leaders on the India-Pakistan crisis, people familiar with the matter said on Monday, rebutting US President Donald Trump’s claim that he used trade to stop a conflict between two countries with “lots of nuclear weapons”.

Trump made the claim while addressing the media at the White House, where he reiterated his earlier contention that his administration helped “broker a full and immediate ceasefire” between India and Pakistan.

US President Donald Trump on Monday claimed credit for helping broker a “full and immediate” ceasefire between India and Pakistan, describing it as a historic step toward ending a “dangerous conflict” between two nuclear-armed nations.

“Let me say a few words about the historic events that took place over the last few days. On Saturday, my administration helped broker a full and immediate ceasefire. I think a permanent one between India and Pakistan, ending a dangerous conflict of two nations the countries having a lot of nuclear weapons.”

Trump said the US used trade leverage to ease tensions between India and Pakistan, claiming his approach prompted both sides to step back.