India Pakistan highlights: Pakistan closes airspace temporarily after India's charge

India Pakistan live updates: Union minister of ports, shipping and waterways Sarbananda Sonowal on Friday chaired a comprehensive review meeting in Mumbai. In light of the current situation, the minister assessed progress on major maritime projects and instructed officials to maintain regular business operations. He also evaluated the preparedness to ensure uninterrupted and efficient cargo movement across ports.

India Pakistan live updates: The Punjab Cabinet on Friday approved the purchase of an anti-drone system worth ₹51.41 crore to curb the smuggling of weapons and drugs from across the Pakistan border, according to an official statement.

The decision was made during a meeting of the council of ministers led by chief minister Bhagwant Mann in Chandigarh.

A spokesperson from the chief minister’s office stated that nine anti-drone systems will be deployed along Punjab’s 532-kilometre-long border with Pakistan. The spokesperson added that the systems are intended to strengthen the state’s ability to detect and disable hostile drones, helping to prevent the illegal entry of arms, explosives, and narcotics.

India Pakistan live updates: Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday directed banks to stay alert and take all necessary measures to ensure uninterrupted service delivery amid the escalating military conflict between India and Pakistan.

During a meeting with the CEOs of banks and insurance companies focused on cybersecurity preparedness, Sitharaman emphasised the crucial role of the financial sector in maintaining economic stability during uncertain times.

She underscored that both digital and in-person banking services must continue without interruption or technical issues. She also instructed institutions to review and test their emergency protocols to be ready for any possible crisis.

Additionally, the finance minister urged banks to prioritise the safety and well-being of employees and their families, particularly those stationed near the border regions.

India Pakistan live updates: As tensions continue to rise, Pakistan opened fire using small arms and artillery along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir’s Uri sector on Friday evening.

The Indian Army is responding in a measured and proportionate manner.

Further information is awaited.

Pakistan escalated its unprovoked firing along the Line of Control, using mortars and heavy artillery in several regions, including Kupwara, Baramulla, Uri, Poonch, Mendhar, and Rajouri, resulting in 16 fatalities so far.

On Thursday night, the Defence Ministry announced that India successfully thwarted Pakistan’s attempts to target key installations, including military stations in Jammu, Pathankot, and Udhampur, with drones and missiles.

India Pakistan live updates: Amid escalating tensions between India and Pakistan, the Gujarat government on Friday decided to cancel all leave for officers and employees across state government departments and offices with immediate effect.

"In view of the prevailing situation, all types of leave for officers and employees of all departments and offices of the state government, as well as Boards, Corporations, Panchayats, Municipal Corporations, and autonomous and grant-in-aid institutions, have been cancelled with immediate effect. Instructions have also been issued to the heads of the respective departments or offices to ensure that officers and employees currently on leave report back to duty with immediate effect," Gujarat CM posted on X.

"Additionally, officers and employees have been instructed not to leave headquarters without prior approval from the head of the department," he added.

India Pakistan live updates: An air raid siren drill in central Delhi’s ITO on Friday caught the attention of many in the area, breaking the usual post-lunch calm and prompting curiosity and concern among locals. The civil defence directorate conducted the test by sounding the siren mounted atop the multi-storey PWD building for about 10 to 15 minutes. Several people in the neighbourhood said it was their first time hearing such a siren.

"Around 3 pm, we heard a loud sound, which gradually became feeble. Although since yesterday I have been seeing videos of sirens being blared in places where attacks happened, hearing it for real was a first-time experience," said Namantullah, 21, who runs a shop near the building.

"My grandfather used to tell me about the Kargil War or the 1971 Indo-Pak war. We could not grasp the ominousness of it because we weren't there. These sirens, though only a test, made it all too real," he added.

India Pakistan live updates: Delhi: Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said that Bahawalpur serves as the headquarters of the UN-designated terrorist group Jaish-e-Mohammed, led by proscribed militant Maulana Masood Azhar. 

He added that the group was either directly or indirectly involved in the killing of journalist Daniel Pearl. Misri explained that the real link to Pearl's murder lies in Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh, a British-Pakistani jihadist who was once in Indian custody but was released in 2000. 

Sheikh was the individual who lured Pearl, leading to his eventual killing. Highlighting the deep interconnections between these individuals and groups, Misri remarked that the recent strike on Jaish’s facility in Bahawalpur was, in his view, an appropriate response to this long-standing chain of events.

India Pakistan live updates: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to hold a meeting at 7 pm with defence minister Rajnath Singh, NSA Ajit Doval, Chief of Defence Staff Anil Chauhan, and the chiefs of the armed forces to assess the progress and strategy of ‘Operation Sindoor’.

India Pakistan live updates: Amid intense cross-border shelling and attempted drone and missile strikes by Pakistan on the night of May 8–9, a large number of migrant workers in Samba, Jammu and Kashmir, began relocating to safer areas.

During the same period, the Border Security Force (BSF) thwarted a major infiltration attempt along the International Border in Samba district, eliminating at least seven terrorists and inflicting significant damage on Pakistan’s Dhandhar Post.

India Pakistan live updates: Ambala deputy commissioner Ajay Singh Tomar discussed the city’s preparedness in light of the ongoing drone attacks from Pakistan, stating, "Ambala has always been a sensitive area and has faced attacks in past wars. Given this, the district administration has made full preparations for any potential threat. We are coordinating with the armed forces... Our air raid sirens are fully operational, and we have already conducted a blackout drill. Drone flying is prohibited in Ambala. Strict action will be taken against anyone caught flying a drone, and any drone spotted will be shot down. We advise not to keep any billboards on generator-inverters, as they weren’t turned off during the blackouts. Schools will be closed tomorrow... The explosion heard in Ambala yesterday was a supersonic boom, not an actual blast."

India Pakistan news live: Regarding Pakistan’s attacks on schools and religious sites along the Line of Control (LoC), Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri stated, “On the morning of May 7, during intense shelling across the LoC, a shell fired from Pakistan landed just behind Christ School in Poonch. The shell struck the home of two students from the school, tragically killing them and injuring their parents. Several school staff and locals sought shelter in an underground hall during the shelling. Fortunately, the school was closed at the time, preventing further casualties. Pakistan is deliberately targeting places of worship, including gurdwaras, churches, and temples, marking a new low in their actions.”

India Pakistan news live: Amid rising tensions with Pakistan, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri stated, "In light of the current security situation, the services of the Kartarpur Sahib Corridor have been suspended until further notice."

The Kartarpur Corridor is a visa-free border crossing that links two prominent gurdwaras (Sikh temples): Gurdwara Darbar Sahib, located near Narowal in Pakistan, and Gurudwara Dera Baba Nanak, situated in the Gurdaspur district of Punjab, India.

India Pakistan news live: In the press briefing on Friday, foreign secretary Vikram Misri condemned Pakistan for deliberately targeting places of worship, calling it a new low for the country.

India Pakistan news live: During a joint press conference with the Ministry of External Affairs, IAF's Wing Commander Vyomika Singh said, "...Pakistan did not close its civil airspace despite launching a failed, unprovoked drone and missile attack on May 7 at 08:30 PM. Pakistan is using civil airliners as shields, fully aware that its attack on India would provoke a swift air defence response. This poses a danger to unsuspecting civil airliners, including international flights flying near the IB between India and Pakistan. The screenshot we just showed displays the data from the Flight Radar 24 application during a high air defence alert situation in the Punjab sector. As you can see, the airspace on the Indian side is completely devoid of civil air traffic due to our declared closure. However, civil airlines continue to fly the route between Karachi and Lahore...The Indian Air Force demonstrated considerable restraint in its response, ensuring the safety of international civil carriers."

India Pakistan news live: Colonel Sofiya Qureshi, in a press briefing with the Ministry of External Affairs on Friday, stated, "On the night of May 7 and 8, the Pakistani army violated Indian airspace multiple times along the entire western border, aiming to target military infrastructure. Additionally, the Pakistani army fired heavy-caliber weapons along the Line of Control. Around 300 to 400 drones were deployed in attempts to infiltrate 36 locations. The Indian armed forces successfully shot down many of these drones using both kinetic and non-kinetic methods. The likely purpose of these large-scale aerial incursions was to test air defence systems and gather intelligence. Forensic analysis of the drone wreckage is underway. Initial findings suggest they are Turkish Asisguard Songar drones..."

India Pakistan news live: The CRPF has delayed all transfer and posting orders and postponed training sessions for its personnel due to rising tensions with Pakistan, PTI reported quoting officials on Friday. Over two dozen CRPF companies, totalling about 2,400 personnel, have been deployed to Jammu and Kashmir to support border security alongside the BSF and Army.

The CRPF headquarters has instructed that all transfers and postings be suspended, with personnel required to remain at their current locations due to the evolving security situation on India's western and northern borders.

Scheduled training programs for troops have been postponed until June, with orders to retain personnel at their deployment sites to handle any emergencies and avoid unnecessary movement. Additionally, the Union Home Ministry has directed the CRPF and other central armed police forces to cancel all leaves and ensure maximum troop availability amidst the escalating conflict with Pakistan.

India Pakistan live updates: S-400 Triumph missile systems, Barak-8 missiles, Akash missiles, and DRDO's anti-drone technologies were deployed to counter Pakistan's offensive against India following the launch of 'Operation Sindoor.'

Tensions between New Delhi and Islamabad have escalated after India targeted multiple sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir on Wednesday, followed by Pakistan's attempt to strike Indian military sites on Thursday, which was successfully intercepted by the Indian armed forces.

India Pakistan live updates: Stock market indices Sensex and Nifty fell over 1% each on Friday as escalating tensions between India and Pakistan raised concerns of a larger conflict.

Traders noted that sharp losses in real estate, financial, and utility sectors also contributed to the decline in investor sentiment.

The 30-share BSE benchmark index extended its previous day's losses, dropping 880.34 points or 1.10% to close at 79,454.47, amid mostly subdued trading.

On the BSE, 2,522 stocks declined, 1,343 rose, and 145 remained unchanged.

The NSE Nifty also fell by 265.80 points or 1.10%, settling at 24,008.

India Pakistan live updates: Cox & Kings has announced a temporary suspension of all new travel packages to Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, and Turkey.

"In light of recent developments, we have decided to pause all new travel offerings to Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, and Turkey. This decision is driven by our commitment to uphold principles that matter deeply to us and the people of our country. We also advise Indian travellers to exercise discretion and avoid any non-essential travel to these destinations until there is greater clarity and alignment in the broader geopolitical environment," Karan Agarwal, Director of Cox & Kings, was quoted as saying by PTI.

India Pakistan live updates: The Maharashtra government on Friday announced the cancellation of leave for senior officials in the health, disaster management, and several other key departments due to the prevailing situation, according to a statement from the chief minister’s Office (CMO).

The CMO also warned of strict action against individuals spreading misinformation or aiding the enemy.

The decision came during a review meeting chaired by chief minister Devendra Fadnavis to assess the state’s security arrangements. The meeting was attended by the state’s director-general of police, Mumbai police commissioner, senior officials from the Home Department, and other key agencies, with deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde also present.

“It has been decided to cancel the leaves of senior officials holding important positions in health, disaster management, and other departments,” the CMO stated.

The chief minister also directed that mock drills be carried out in all 36 districts of Maharashtra to ensure preparedness. Additionally, each district has been instructed to establish a dedicated war room.

India Pakistan live updates: In response to rising travel demand, the Northern Railway on Friday introduced three special trains from Jammu and Udhampur to New Delhi.

Himanshu Upadhaya, Chief Public Relation Officer of Northern Railway, said, "One special train with 12 unreserved and 12 reserved coaches left from Jammu to New Delhi around 10.45 am. The second one, a 20-coach Vande Bharat train, started at 12:45 pm from Udhampur to New Delhi via Jammu and Pathankot."

He further added, “The third special, a 22-coach reserved train, has been scheduled from Jammu to New Delhi around 7 pm."

Officials noted that with growing tensions near the Pakistan border, many people from nearby areas have been relocating to safer regions, leading to a spike in travel demand.

India Pakistan live updates: On the night of May 8, Pakistan carried out coordinated drone attacks across multiple Indian cities. At least 600 small drones were launched, targeting 30 locations across Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Rajasthan, and Gujarat.

The escalation from Islamabad followed India’s precision strikes on terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir in the early hours of May 7.

India Pakistan live updates: On Thursday night, the Pakistani Army launched intense firing along the Line of Control (LoC) in the Poonch, Uri, Kupwara, Tangdhar, and Karnah sectors of Jammu and Kashmir, escalating tensions with India.

The shelling, which has continued for three days, resulted in several injuries and caused significant damage to homes and vehicles. Earlier, Pakistan fired eight missiles targeting Satwari, Samba, RS Pura, and Arnia, but India's air defence system successfully intercepted and blocked them. Read here

India Pakistan live updates: Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma reviewed the state’s situation amid the ongoing India-Pakistan conflict and gathered feedback from officers in border areas.

Sharma instructed officers to remain vigilant and ensure adequate preparations given the current circumstances. He is scheduled to hold a more detailed review meeting with senior officials in the evening.

In Jaisalmer, District Collector Pratap Singh directed drone operators to submit their drones to local police stations on Friday. 

Additionally, the sale and bursting of crackers have been prohibited, and markets are required to close by 5 pm. A blackout will begin at 6 pm and last for 12 hours. Residents have been asked to cover their doors and windows to prevent light from being visible.

India Pakistan live updates: Delhi: The testing of air raid sirens installed at the PWD headquarters in ITO was conducted on Friday, with Delhi PWD Minister Parvesh Verma present at the site.

The Directorate of Civil Defence, under the Government of NCT Delhi, carried out the exercise at 3 pm. The siren testing lasted for 15 to 20 minutes, and the public was advised not to panic as it was part of routine preparedness measures.

District Magistrate (Central) G. Sudhakar urged residents to remain calm and not be alarmed by the sirens. Authorities also ensured information was disseminated via social and electronic media to avoid confusion.