India-Pakistan Tensions: Over 50 Pakistani Drones Shot Down by Air Defence Along LoC

A tense Thursday night saw India pushing back against a barrage of Pakistani missile and drone attacks across multiple states—Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab, Rajasthan, and Gujarat—as the military enforced blackouts along the western border and scrambled air defences to protect key regions.

In the Jammu region alone, at least eight Pakistani missiles were shot down over Satwari, Samba, RS Pura, and Arnia, thanks to India’s S-400 air defence system. Sirens blared in towns like Akhnoor, Baramulla, Kupwara, and Samba, while power cuts were ordered to reduce visibility for incoming threats.

Earlier that day, the Indian military reported foiling coordinated Pakistani attempts to strike military installations in 15 cities across the north and west using drones and missiles. In retaliation, India carried out targeted airstrikes on Pakistan’s air defence infrastructure, with a major facility in Lahore reportedly destroyed.

Pakistan responded by shutting down air operations in key cities—Karachi was closed until 6 PM, while Islamabad and Lahore airports were briefly suspended for what officials called “operational reasons.”

The back-and-forth strikes come just 24 hours after India launched precision attacks on nine terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) under Operation Sindoor. That mission was a direct response to the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, which killed 26 people. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh later told an all-party meeting that at least 100 terrorists were killed in the operation.

As military activity escalates, the impact is now spilling into civilian life and international discourse:

• Airports Tighten Security: India’s civil aviation ministry has shut down 24 airports for civilian flights. Passengers across the country are being told to arrive at least three hours early amid stricter security checks following an advisory from the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS).

• Govt on High Alert: Leaves of government employees in Delhi, Punjab, and Rajasthan have been cancelled as tensions rise and shelling continues in some border areas.

• US Stays Neutral, Urges De-escalation: Reacting to the situation, US Vice President JD Vance said America would not involve itself in a war that is “fundamentally none of our business,” though it would push both countries to step back from the brink.

• Clampdown on Social Media: In the digital space, Elon Musk’s X (formerly Twitter) confirmed that the Indian government has asked it to block around 8,000 accounts. While X said it would comply locally, it also admitted the move was “not an easy decision.”

With both sides digging in and international voices calling for calm, the situation remains volatile—and the coming days will likely determine whether this crisis escalates or finds a diplomatic off-ramp.