Mock drill: Is India planning another Operation amid border tensions with Pakistan in the west and Bangladesh in the east?

Time of India

29-05-2025

India has delayed a mock drill near the Pakistan border. This follows increased tensions and Operation Sindoor. The eastern border with Bangladesh also sees more activity. India is reviving the Kailashahar airfield. This is amid concerns about China's moves in Bangladesh. The government says drills are routine. But the timing raises questions about India's readiness.
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Operation Shield put on hold; drills aimed at war preparedness
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No official word on new military action
India has postponed a nationwide mock drill that was scheduled for May 29 in border districts near Pakistan . The decision follows increased tensions on both western and eastern fronts. It comes just weeks after the May 7 strike known as Operation Sindoor , which hit terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. The eastern sector has also seen developments that have raised strategic concerns.The postponed drill was part of Operation Shield, a large-scale civil defence exercise coordinated by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs. It was designed to test India's preparedness for wartime emergencies, including air raids, drone strikes, and evacuations. The drill was planned to cover 244 districts nationwide with air raid sirens, blackout exercises, and public safety drills.Earlier in May, a similar drill named Operation Abhyaas was conducted across various states and Union Territories. That exercise marked the first such widespread readiness initiative since the 1971 Indo-Pak war.On May 7, India launched Operation Sindoor on the same day as the nationwide civil defence drill. India announced that it targeted nine terror hubs in Pakistan and PoK. The move followed the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, which claimed the lives of several Indian tourists. The deja vu of May 7 mock drills has now sparked speculation about possible Indian action.While attention remains on Pakistan, the eastern border with Bangladesh has also seen an uptick in military and surveillance activity. Border Security Force (BSF) units have intensified patrols in Assam and West Bengal. Officials have been visiting key locations to assess preparedness and infrastructure.India is also reportedly moving to revive the long-defunct Kailashahar airfield in Tripura's Unakoti district. On May 26, senior officials from the Airports Authority of India visited the site to assess land, visibility, and infrastructure conditions. The airfield has remained non-operational for more than three decades.The move comes amid reports that China is helping upgrade the old Lalmonirhat airbase in northern Bangladesh, just 20 km from India's border. Indian defence planners see the development as a potential strategic challenge. The Lalmonirhat site lies near the Siliguri Corridor, a narrow land strip connecting the northeastern states with the rest of India.India's renewed focus on Kailashahar carries both historical and strategic significance. During the 1971 Indo-Pak war, it served as a base for joint missions between the Indian Air Force and the Bangladeshi resistance. It was from here that the first sorties of 'Kilo Flight'—the precursor to the Bangladesh Air Force—were launched using modified civilian aircraft.There is no official confirmation from the Indian government about any new operation or action along the border. The government maintains that mock drills are routine exercises meant to enhance readiness. Postponements are based on operational assessments.'While Operation Shield is being described as a preparedness effort, its timing and the military posture on both borders have raised questions. Whether India is preparing for another covert strike or simply maintaining high readiness remains unclear.