In a dramatic escalation of tensions between India and Pakistan, both nations have exchanged a series of aggressive military actions over the past few days, culminating in missile strikes and drone attacks that have raised alarms on both sides of the border.
On Saturday, May 10, 2025, Pakistan’s Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations (DG ISPR), Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, reported that India launched six ballistic missiles from the Adampur airbase in Indian Punjab. According to Chaudhry, one missile landed near Adampur while the remaining five struck locations in the Amritsar region. He condemned the incident as a reckless act that endangered civilian lives, stating, "India is targeting through its schemes, populations of Sikhs in Indian Punjab. All our sympathies are with Sikhs and minorities who are falling victim to its (India’s) own internal conspiracies. This is a shocking development and provocation of the highest order, where India has now started firing ballistic missiles at its own population, which doesn’t make any sort of sense. This is an act bereft of sanity."
Earlier, on May 9, Chaudhry had challenged India to provide evidence for its claims that Pakistan had attacked Indian military installations using drones and missiles. He asserted, "Pakistan has not used drones or rockets. If India claims otherwise, let it present evidence," criticizing Indian media for spreading what he described as fabricated stories. He emphasized that Pakistan's military response was limited to retaliating against Indian military posts that were firing into civilian areas along the Line of Control (LoC).
Meanwhile, the situation escalated further when India intercepted a Pakistani drone attack that targeted 26 locations across India, from Jammu and Kashmir to Gujarat, on the same day. The Indian Army confirmed that drones were sighted in various regions, including Jammu, Samba, and Amritsar. In a related incident, debris from a Pakistani drone fell on a residential area in Ferozpur, Punjab, injuring three family members. They were quickly transported to a private hospital for treatment.
On May 8, Pakistan had launched a barrage of artillery fire, drone, and missile attacks on multiple locations in Jammu, following India's strikes against terror hideouts in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). In response, India initiated "precision strikes" under Operation Sindoor, targeting nine terror sites in Pakistan and PoK after a recent terror attack in Pahalgam that killed 26 civilians.
As the situation intensified, Indian forces reported heavy firing towards Pakistan’s Punjab province, particularly in Sialkot and Narowal. Intelligence sources indicated that India had intercepted six ballistic missiles fired by Pakistan, all of which were reportedly neutralized before reaching their targets. Additionally, Indian air defense systems successfully thwarted multiple drone incursions from Pakistan, further escalating military tensions between the two nations.
In a press briefing, Chaudhry also accused Indian forces of being involved in terrorist activities not just in Pakistan but also in other countries, including the United States and Canada. He claimed there was credible evidence of Indian handlers assigning terror tasks to militants operating within Pakistan. He stated, "There is credible evidence of Indian handlers assigning terror tasks to militants operating in Pakistan," adding that intercepted communications between Indian soldiers and terrorist operatives had been documented.
In the wake of these military confrontations, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi convened a meeting with the chiefs of the Army, Navy, and Air Defense Services to review the escalating situation. Following this, Indian forces launched retaliatory drone strikes targeting Pakistani cities, including Islamabad, Lahore, and Rawalpindi, where blasts were reported in multiple locations.
As tensions soared, the Airports Authority of India announced the temporary closure of 32 airports across northern and western India for civil flight operations from May 9 to 14, 2025, citing security concerns amid the ongoing conflict. Furthermore, schools, colleges, and universities in Jammu were ordered to remain closed until May 16, 2025, as a precautionary measure.
In a separate development, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) approved the disbursement of approximately USD 1 billion to Pakistan under the ongoing Extended Fund Facility. This approval came amid concerns raised by India regarding the potential misuse of IMF funds for state-sponsored terrorism.
In light of the escalating military tensions, both nations are on high alert, and citizens in border areas have been advised to remain indoors and follow safety instructions. The situation remains fluid, with the potential for further confrontations as both sides prepare for possible retaliatory actions.
The current state of affairs underscores the fragile nature of peace in the region, with both India and Pakistan engaging in military posturing that could lead to further escalation if diplomatic efforts are not renewed. As the world watches closely, the hope remains that cooler heads will prevail to prevent a broader conflict.
