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Indian Express
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Daily Briefing: Sirens, blackouts and a long night
Good morning, If you were glued to your television screen last night, you likely witnessed India's anti-missile systems in action, intercepting a barrage of Pakistani drones and missiles along the western and northern borders. Air raid sirens blared through, and at least 15 cities in Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Rajasthan and Gujarat went dark. 🎯 Targets: Pakistan aimed its strikes at Indian military facilities, with a heavy focus on Jammu, Pathankot, and Udhampur. Sources say eight missiles were also fired at Satwari—home to the Jammu airport—as well as Samba, RS Pura, and Arnia. Drone activity was also reported in parts of Rajasthan. 📡Defence: India reported no casualties or damage. The Ministry of Defence confirmed that threats were swiftly neutralised using kinetic (missiles and weapon systems) and non-kinetic (jammers and anti-drone nets) means. The Indian Air Force activated its Integrated Counter UAS (Unmanned Aerial Systems) Grid along with an array of surface-to-air missile systems, including the S400 Triumf, Barak 8 MRSAM (Medium Range Surface to Air Missile) and the indigenous Akash. (Know more about these defence systems.) Also read: An in-depth explainer on the assortment of weapons that make up air defence systems and how they work. ⏩ Escalation: These developments came hours after India stated it had neutralised an air defence system in Lahore in response to the Pakistani aggression on early Thursday morning. Authorities maintain that India's response was measured, but as a senior government official told my colleague Ritu Sarin, they will not back down from retaliating against any escalation from Pakistan. 🗣️Diplomacy: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar had a packed evening, holding talks with the visiting foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia and Iran, both pushing for calm. Saudi Arabia's involvement stands out, given its historic tilt toward Pakistan and its recent pivot toward India. The United States and the European Union also called for restraint. Jaishankar's message to all was clear: India will respond firmly to escalation. Crucially, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is set to conduct a performance review of the aid disbursed to Pakistan before releasing the next tranche of $1 billion of the $7 billion package committed in September 2024. India has urged the IMF to 'look deep within' before bailing out the impoverished country. 📺 Digital blackout: The Indian government has advised OTT platforms to scrub all Pakistani content in the 'interest of national security'. Meanwhile, social media platform X stated it had received directions from Indian authorities to block over 8,000 accounts, including those belonging to international news organisations and prominent X users. Failure to comply would result in penalties. The move is significant given the massive amount of mis/disinformation doing the rounds on social media, fuelling distorted narratives and unverified claims. ✈️ On alert: If you plan to take a flight, factor in a few extra hours as airports across the country ramp up security. On Thursday, the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) ordered 100 per cent secondary ladder point checking, which means an additional screening of all passengers and luggage before boarding the airplane. Additionally, commercial flights have been suspended at 25 airports close to the India-Pakistan border or those housed at Indian Air Force bases. 🏏 And lastly, the BCCI is expected to announce the fate of the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) today. Last night's Punjab Kings vs Delhi Capitals match in Dharamsala was abandoned following aerial threats and blackouts along the western front. Several foreign players have since expressed a desire to return home. That's all for today. Until tomorrow, Sonal Gupta Sonal Gupta is a senior sub-editor on the news desk. She runs The Indian Express's weekly climate newsletter, Icebreaker. Apart from this, her interests range from politics and world affairs to art and culture and AI. She also curates the Morning Expresso, a daily briefing of top stories of the day, which won gold in the 'best newsletter' category at the WAN-IFRA South Asian Digital Media Awards 2023. ... Read More
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First Post
09-05-2025
- Politics
- First Post
India foils Pakistan's missiles, drone attacks; Navy ops begin: What happened overnight
It's been an action-packed night. Following the success of India's Operation Sindoor, Pakistan escalated tensions with India on the night of May 8. It fired multiple missiles and launched over 50 drones towards Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab and Rajasthan. However, India's military thwarted all of the neighbouring nation's attempts and launched its own counter-fire towards Islamabad, Karachi, Sialkot and Lahore, even shooting down one of its AWACs read more It's been a night of terror. A night of firing. A night of uncertainty. On the night of May 8, Pakistan stepped up hostilities when it chose to strike multiple states in India, including Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Rajasthan and Gujarat — using drones, missiles and intense artillery shelling. However, India thwarted these attacks, and, in turn, launched its own retaliatory fire, targeting Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Khenju (Sind), Attock, Miano, Bahawalpur and an area near Karachi. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The escalating actions also prompted US Secretary of State Marco Rubio to hold talks with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Pakistani Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and emphasised the need for de-escalation in the growing crisis between the two countries. For those who were asleep last night and missed the action, here's a recap of all that happened. 1) A day after India conducted Operation Sindoor, Pakistan escalated the situation by targeting civilian and military areas in India with a swarm of drones, missiles and intense artillery shelling. On Thursday night, Pakistan targeted areas in Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab and Rajasthan with drones. 2) Government sources said that at least eight missiles from Pakistan were directed at Jammu and Kashmir's Satwari, Samba, RS Pura and Arnia and all were intercepted by air defence units. The IAF activated its Integrated Counter UAS (Unmanned Aerial Systems) Grid and other air defence systems, including the S400 Triumf, Barak 8 MRSAM (medium range surface-to-air missile) and the indigenous Akash, helping set up an air defence umbrella that helped thwart the attacks. 3) 'Military stations at Jammu and Pathankot and Udhampur were targeted by Pakistani-origin drones and missiles along the International Border in J and K today. The threats were swiftly neutralised using kinetic and non-kinetic capabilities…,' according to a late night Ministry of Defence statement. A resident inspects his house damaged by Pakistani artillery shelling in Poonch, along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir. AP 4) Some reports say Pakistan tried to target Jammu airport. However, there is no confirmation on this yet. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 5) The barrage of missiles and drones from Pakistan led to a blackout in Jammu and Kashmir. Moreover, air raid sirens wailed with an order being passed to keep schools and colleges shut in the area. 6) India also thwarted Pakistan's attacks on Punjab and Rajasthan. Late at night, there were reports of a loud noise heard in Pathankot which some feared could be shelling from Pakistan but there was no confirmation. 7) In Rajasthan, the border districts of Jaisalmer and Bikaner reported seeing what appeared to be drones or missiles in the sky, which were again intercepted by air defence systems. Pakistani drones started entering Indian airspace in Rajasthan around 9 pm. 'These were drone attacks which were successfully intercepted,' a BSF officer said, adding that no loss of life or damage was reported. 8) There are reports that India shot down an F-16 supersonic fighter jet of the Pakistan Air Force. Sources have also said that India has shot down two JF-17 fighter jets. However, there is no confirmation on this matter. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD A blackout is seen after residents of the city of Jammu reported hearing explosions and sirens in Srinagar. AP 9) The situation also led officials to call off the IPL 2025 match between Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals in Dharamsala. The Indian Army in a small statement on X confirmed Pakistan's actions. In a post, it said, 'Pakistan Armed Forces launched multiple attacks using drones and other munitions along entire Western Border on the intervening night of 08 and 09 May 2025. Pak troops also resorted to numerous cease fire violations (CFVs) along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir. The drone attacks were effectively repulsed and befitting reply was given to the CFVs.' 11) Following Pakistan's actions, India activated its air defence system, destroying a Pakistan Air Force's Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS), according to sources. The airborne early warning systems are costly military equipment. There are reports that India struck Pakistan's capital Islamabad as well as Lahore and Sialkot late on Thursday. 12) Following Pakistan's actions, sources said the Indian Navy started a retaliatory operation. They began operations in the Arabian Sea, targeting multiple targets in Pakistan. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Targeted operations, they said in the early hours of Friday, have begun in the Arabian Sea against multiple targets in Pakistan. Debris of a scooter damaged by a cross-border shelling lies on a road in Poonch near the Line of Control. Reuters 13) Reacting to the situation, US Secretary of State held phone calls with India's External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar as well as Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. While the American side emphasised the need for de-escalation, it is learnt that Jaishankar told the US official that India will respond in a 'measured' manner to all terrorist attacks targeting its territory and citizens, but will not take kindly to any attempt by Pakistan to escalate military tension. 'Underlined India's targeted and measured response to cross-border terrorism. Will firmly counter any attempts at escalation,' Jaishankar posted on X after the call. 14) US Vice President JD Vance also speaking on the issue, said that the US will not intervene in the conflict between Pakistan and India, calling fighting between the two nuclear powers 'fundamentally none of our business'. 'What we can do is try to encourage these folks to de-escalate a little bit, but we're not going to get involved in the middle of war that's fundamentally none of our business and has nothing to do with America's ability to control it,' Vance said during an interview. As the US could force neither side to lay down their arms, he continued, the country would 'continue to pursue this thing through diplomatic channels'. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD With inputs from agencies
