In a dramatic escalation not witnessed since the 1971 war, Pakistan launched a twin-pronged aerial and cross-border assault targeting Jammu city and surrounding sectors late Thursday and early Friday. Indian defence systems, however, responded swiftly and decisively, thwarting both attempts and reaffirming the nation’s military preparedness in the face of growing regional volatility.
The first strike came on Thursday evening between 8 and 8:30 PM, when Pakistani forces launched eight missiles and deployed multiple drones towards critical installations in Jammu, including the Satwari, Samba, RS Pura, and Arnia sectors. A complete blackout was imposed across the city, and Indian air defence units neutralized all incoming threats midair, averting potential civilian and military casualties.
Barely hours later, at around 3:50 AM on Friday, Pakistan renewed its offensive with another drone barrage, accompanied by artillery shelling along the International Border and the Line of Control. Explosions echoed intermittently until 4:45 AM, each followed by the wail of air raid sirens. Indian forces once again repelled the attack, maintaining the integrity of the region’s defences.
A simultaneous infiltration attempt by a group of terrorists at the Samba sector was also foiled by alert Border Security Force (BSF) personnel. The BSF confirmed the thwarting of the operation at approximately 11 PM on May 8, reinforcing concerns about Pakistan’s coordinated multi-vector strategy to destabilize the region.
India’s military response was as resolute as it was restrained. “A befitting reply was given to the ceasefire violations. The Indian Army remains committed to safeguarding the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the nation,” said the Army’s Additional Directorate General of Public Information in an official statement.
Despite the magnitude of the threat, the resilience of Jammu’s citizens was on full display. By Friday morning, the city had returned to a semblance of normalcy, with shops and markets reopening and public transport services resuming operations. Deputy Commissioners in both Jammu and Chandigarh issued advisories urging calm and cooperation, highlighting the efficiency of India’s civil-defence apparatus.
The spillover of tensions was also evident in Chandigarh, where air raid sirens were sounded and an advisory urged residents to stay indoors and switch off lights. Mohali enforced a two-hour blackout following intelligence inputs, while Panchkula faced temporary confusion due to delayed communication.
The regional reaction was swift. Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah immediately travelled from Srinagar to Jammu to assess the situation firsthand, underscoring the administration’s urgency in addressing national security concerns and civilian safety.
This latest episode marks a sharp deterioration in Indo-Pak relations, with the use of drones, long-range artillery, and attempted infiltration signalling a departure from sporadic skirmishes to a more orchestrated offensive. For India, the attacks serve as a reminder of the persistent threats emanating from across the border—and the imperative of constant vigilance.
At a time when geopolitical fault lines are being redrawn globally, India’s ability to swiftly neutralize threats while maintaining domestic calm reflects a robust civil-military synergy. But this is also a moment for deeper strategic reflection—about deterrence, dialogue, and the path forward in a region long burdened by unresolved tensions.
