Operation Sindoor, India Pakistan Tensions NEWS Live: Colonel Sofiya Qureshi on Friday said during MEA’s press briefing that Pakistan deployed between 300 and 400 drones across 36 locations along India’s northern and western borders. Preliminary investigations indicate that Turkey’s SONGAR drones were used in the attacks. Colonel Qureshi stated that Indian forces successfully neutralised the drones using both kinetic and non-kinetic countermeasures. She also confirmed that a Pakistani UAV attempted to target a military installation in Bathinda, but the Indian Armed Forces intercepted and foiled the attack.
Wing Commander Vyomika Singh said that Pakistan’s conduct has been very “irresponsible” so far. She added that Pakistan didn’t even close its airspace after launching the attack on India last night and is in fact using its civilian airlines as a shield.
Indian forces intercepted Pakistani drones over key areas on Thursday night amid city-wide blackouts. Airforce and Defence ministry confirmed that three Indian military stations in Jammu, Pathankot and Udhampur were attacked by Pakistan. Defence ministry sources confirmed that 8 missiles were targeted at Jammu city and subsequently thwarted. A blackout was enforced in several districts, including Pathankot, Amritsar, Jalandhar, Hoshiarpur, Mohali, and Gurdaspur in Punjab and Chandigarh.
Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday spoke to officials in border areas and directed them to take stock of the situation. Many states have also announced the closure of schools, blackouts in border districts, and cancellation of leave of police personnel and administration officials amid the escalating tensions.
“Military stations at Jammu, Pathankot & Udhampur were targeted by Pakistani-origin drones and missiles along the International Border in J&K today. The threats were swiftly neutralised using kinetic and non-kinetic capabilities in line with established Standard Operating Procedures. No casualties or material losses were reported. India remains fully prepared to defend its sovereignty and ensure the safety of its people,” read an update from the Ministry of Defence.
‘Fundamentally, not our problem,’ says US Vice President JD Vance
US Vice President JD Vance, speaking to Fox News, said that while the United States is encouraging India and Pakistan to reduce tensions, it has no plans to directly intervene in the conflict. He stressed that the issue lies outside America’s control and influence, and that both nations must make their own decisions. “What we can do is try to encourage these folks to deescalate 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.
Vance added that the US will continue supporting peace efforts through diplomacy. “You know, America can’t tell the Indians to lay down their arms. We can’t tell the Pakistanis to lay down their arms. And so, we’re going to continue to pursue this thing through diplomatic channels,” he said. He expressed hope that the situation won’t grow into a larger regional conflict or nuclear crisis, though he acknowledged concern about the possibility. He stressed that the responsibility lies with leaders in both countries to avoid such an outcome.
‘We are worried about these things. The job of the cooler heads in India and Pakistan is to make sure that this doesn’t become a nuclear war and if it happens, it will be disastrous but right now we don’t think it is going to happen,” Vance said.
Meanwhile, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh chaired an All Party Meet on May 8 where various Opposition leaders and Union Ministers were in attendance. The meeting was held at the Parliament in New Delhi to discuss Operation Sindoor. This comes a day after India launched ‘OPERATION SINDOOR‘ early Wednesday morning, hitting terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir. As the Indian Army out it, this was a precision strike carried out by the Armed Forces at nine terror base camps in Pakistan. The strikes were in response to the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam that killed 26 people.
Track full live coverage of India’s attack on Pakistan terror camps here:
Operation Sindoor Live Updates Here:
Kharge on PM Modi’s absence from All-Party Meet
Commenting on Prime Minister Narendra Modi‘s absence from the all-party meeting, Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge said that while the Prime Minister may consider himself above Parliament, this was not the right moment to raise such issues. He added that although questions may be asked later, the current situation is a time of crisis and not one for criticism. ““It is alright if he thinks he is above the Parliament. When the time comes, we will ask. But this is a crisis time and we don’t want to criticize anyone at this time,” he said.
Families in J-K’s Akhnoor relocate due to continued firing along LoC
Families living close to the LoC in the Akhnoor sector have had to leave their homes again because of continued firing from across the border. They have moved to safer areas to protect themselves.
Srilankan Airlines suspends flights to Lahore
SriLankan Airlines announced on Thursday that it has temporarily suspended its flights to Lahore due to the ongoing military tensions in the Kashmir region. The airline, which operates four flights a week on this route, has cancelled all of them until further notice.
Despite the suspension of Lahore services, flights to Karachi will continue as per the existing schedule, according to the airline. Sources indicated that the decision was taken as a precautionary measure in light of the current security situation.
Congess Chief Kharge assures full support to the govt post all-party meet
Congress MP and Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, said that during the all-party meeting, the Centre briefed the leaders on the situation but mentioned that some sensitive details couldn’t be disclosed for national security reasons. He added that the opposition assured the government of its full support during this time.
Pakistani intruder neutralised by BSF in Punjab’s Ferozepur
A Pakistani national attempting to cross into Indian territory was shot dead by BSF personnel in Punjab’s Ferozepur sector during the night between May 7 and 8, according to ANI sources. The individual was spotted deliberately crossing the International Border and advancing toward the border fence in night. BSF troops, maintaining strict vigilance, challenged the intruder and opened fire. The body was recovered in the morning and handed over to the local police for further procedures, ANI sources added.
Israel updates travel advisory, urges nationals to leave Kashmir amid India-Pakistan tensions
With tensions rising between India and Pakistan, Israel has updated its travel advisory, urging its nationals currently in the Kashmir region to “leave immediately.” The updated advisory was issued on Wednesday, shortly after the Indian Armed Forces launched strikes on terror camps in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and Pakistan’s Punjab province. In response, the Pakistan Army carried out one of the heaviest artillery and mortar shelling incidents in recent years, targeting forward villages along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir. The Israeli Foreign Ministry advised its nationals to avoid traveling to the Jammu and Kashmir region, excluding Ladakh. It stated that Israelis currently in Kashmir should “leave immediately” and follow all instructions issued by local security forces.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Araghchi in New Delhi – To co-chair 20th Iran-India Joint Commission with S Jaishankar
Iran’s Foreign Minister Araghchi is in New Delhi for an official visit aimed at strengthening Iran-India relations and discussing regional and international matters, the country’s Foreign Ministry said on X. During the visit, he and India’s EAM S Jaishankar will jointly lead the 20th session of the Iran-India Joint Commission. The statement said that several bilateral agreements are expected to be signed, focusing on cooperation in areas such as trade, customs, and healthcare. The Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasized the deep historical ties between the two nations and the importance of working together to promote peace, security, and stability in the region and beyond.
Two gates at Baglihar dam in Ramban opened
News agency ANI has reported that two gates of the Baglihar Hydroelectric Power Project Dam built on the Chenab River in Ramban have been opened.
The government held an all-party meeting on Thursday to update political leaders on the success of Operation Sindoor and its impact, as tensions between India and Pakistan remain high following the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam. This marks the second such meeting in two weeks, bringing together senior government ministers and key opposition leaders. The meeting was chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, with other top ministers including Home Minister Amit Shah, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, BJP president J.P. Nadda, and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in attendance. From the opposition, Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge took part, along with Trinamool Congress’s Sandip Bandyopadhyay and DMK’s T.R. Baalu. Other participants included Ram Gopal Yadav (Samajwadi Party), Sanjay Singh (AAP), Sanjay Raut (Shiv Sena UBT), Supriya Sule (NCP-SP), Sasmit Patra (BJD), and John Brittas (CPI-M). JD(U)’s Sanjay Jha, Union Minister and LJP (Ram Vilas) leader Chirag Paswan, and AIMIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi also attended the briefing.
MEA reveals 13 casualties in ceasefire violations by Pakistan along LoC
The MEA has said that there have been civilian casualties in ceasefire violations by Pakistan along the LoC. Here’s the data:
Fatal – 13 ( All in Poonch)
Non Fatal – 59 (44 in Poonch)
Centre holds All Party Meet
#watch | Centre holds all-party meeting to brief all political parties on #operationsindoor pic.twitter.com/q96NZnhUY6
‘Perhaps our army will take even bigger steps,’ says Delhi CM Rekha Gupta
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta stated that Pakistan is now aware of the consequences of its continued support for terrorism in India. She said the Indian government and armed forces have given a strong response, and if such actions from Pakistan continue, the army may take even stronger measures. She emphasized that the entire country, with its 140 crore citizens, stands united and prepared to face any challenge that may arise.
Kharge, Rahul Gandhi among others arrive at the Parliament for All Party Meet
Leaders have started arriving at the Parliament for the All Party Meet. Watch here:
#watch | Delhi | Congress MP & LoP Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge and LoP Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi arrive at the Parliament Annexe building to attend the all-party meeting called by the Centre pic.twitter.com/SyZVCrBdbd
All Party Meet to begin shortly
The All Party Meet chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath SIngh will begin shortly. The meeting is being held in the new Parliament building in the National Capital.
EAM Jaishankar meets Saudi’s Foreign Affairs Minister
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met with Saudi Arabia’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs this morning. Jaishankar then took to X and called it ‘A good meeting’.
J-K border villagers return home after heavy shelling forced them to evacuate
Residents of border villages in Jammu and Kashmir’s Rajouri district began returning to their homes on Thursday morning, after fleeing in panic the previous day due to intense shelling by the Pakistan Army, reported ANI. The heavy artillery fire came in response to India’s Operation Sindoor, which struck nine terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). Villagers who returned reported that the shelling had caused serious damage to homes, forcing many families to evacuate with their belongings and livestock to seek safety.
Schools closed in six Punjab border districts
With tensions running high between India and Pakistan, all schools in six border districts of Punjab remained closed on Thursday, according to officials. The educational institutions have been shut in Punjab’s Ferozepur, Pathankot, Fazilka, Amritsar, Gurdaspur, and Tarn Taran. The heightened alert follows missile strikes carried out by Indian armed forces early Wednesday. The strikes targeted nine terror locations in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), including key bases of Jaish-e-Mohammad in Bahawalpur and Lashkar-e-Taiba in Muridke. These strikes were in response to the deadly April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir.
Schools, educational institutes shut in Rajasthan, Jodhpur, Jammu post Operation Sindoor
Following India’s missile strikes on terrorist camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK), schools across several border districts have been shut as a precaution. In Rajasthan, districts close to the border—Barmer, Bikaner, Sri Ganganagar, and Jaisalmer—have announced holidays for all government and private schools until further notice. In Barmer specifically, schools will remain closed starting Thursday, with no reopening date given yet.
In Jodhpur, the district administration has ordered the closure of all schools and Anganwadi centers—both government and private—until further notice. This decision was made in light of the current situation following Operation Sindoor.
In Jammu, as well as in the nearby regions of Kathua, Rajouri, and Poonch, all educational institutions have also been directed to stay closed on Thursday, May 8.
Shiv Sena puts up posters in Mumbai praising Indian Army and PM Modi
The Shiv Sena party put up posters on put up posters in Mumbai praising the Indian Army and Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the success of Operation Sindoor, a military strike carried out against Pakistan. These posters were seen near Dadar Station. A day earlier, the Indian Armed Forces had jointly carried out missile strikes on nine targets deep inside Pakistan and PoK. The action was in response to the deadly terror attack in Pahalgam on April 22. Following these strikes, major cities in northern India have been put on high alert. As part of increased security, the police have announced that Amritsar Airport will remain closed until further notice.
Satellite images shared by Maxar Technologies shows aftermath of Operation Sindoor
Satellite images shared by Maxar Technologies and reviewed by Reuters clearly show the destruction of terrorist facilities in Pakistan’s Bahawalpur and Muridke, news agency Reuters reported. These areas were hit by India’s precise missile strikes under ‘Operation Sindoor’ early Wednesday morning. The attacks were aimed at important bases of the terrorist groups Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), in response to the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which killed 26 people, most of them tourists. The images include before-and-after views of the Jamia Masjid Subhan Allah in Bahawalpur, which served as JeM’s operational headquarters, showing heavy damage after the strike.
Pakistan shuts flight operations at THESE airports
According to a Reuters report, Pakistan has temporarily shut flight operations at Karachi, Lahore and Sialkot airports.
BJP MP Nishikant Dubey urges to block accounts having ‘Pakistan mentality’
As tensions between India and Pakistan rise after the launch of Operation Sindoor, BJP MP Nishikant Dubey on Thursday urged the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to block social media accounts of individuals he described as having a “Pakistan mentality.” Posting on X, Dubey stated that during times of war, freedom of expression should not be allowed. He called on the ministry to take action against such individuals on platforms like social media and YouTube, accusing them of turning baseless claims into global controversies.
Blast heard in Lahore: Reports
A loud explosion was reported in Lahore, a city in eastern Pakistan, on Thursday morning, as per Geo TV and a Reuters eyewitness. The incident was reported just a day after India carried out airstrikes on 9 terror camps in Pakistan, which eventually led to rising concerns about a possible escalation in tensions between the two nuclear-armed nations.
Amritsar airport to be closed until May 10, Congress MP says ‘no need to panic’
With tensions rising between India and Pakistan after the start of Operation Sindoor, Congress MP Gurjeet Singh Aujla announced on Thursday morning that the Amritsar airport will stay closed until May 10. He assured people in the Amritsar Lok Sabha area that there is no reason to panic, as the Indian Army is fully prepared to handle the situation. He explained that the airport is closed due to mock drills and Air Force activities. Aujla, who arrived in Amritsar from Delhi that morning, urged everyone to remain calm and peaceful.
He also advised people not to stock up on food unnecessarily and requested them to avoid spreading unverified information on social media.
Fact Check – Viral pro-Pakistan social media post is FAKE
A fake pro-Pakistan social media post is going viral after the Indian Army carried out Operation Sindoor on May 7. ANI reported that the post is fake. Take a look:
Truth under attack: Pakistan's propaganda machine on overdrive post Op Sindoor
Read @ANI Story | https://t.co/oPbrCE7s8B#pakistan #india #operationsindoor pic.twitter.com/7qCmODCVLe
Pakistan resorts to artillery shelling in civilian areas
In early morning news on Thursday, news agency ANI reported that Pakistan had resorted to artillery shelling in civilian areas after the Indian Army hit carried out strikes on nine terror hotbeds in Pakistan on May 7.
Pak shelling kills at least 12 persons in Kashmir, over 50 injured
When India struck nine terror locations in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir in response to the Pahalgam attack, Union Home Minister Amit Shah instructed border states to strengthen infrastructure in case of any possible retaliation from Pakistan. The warning came amid rising concerns, as cross-border shelling by Pakistani forces on Wednesday resulted in the deaths of at least twelve civilians and injuries to more than 50 people, including two CRPF personnel. Following the early morning missile strikes, there was intense movement within the government, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi meeting President Droupadi Murmu to update her on the operation, named ‘Operation Sindoor’.
All Party Meeting at 11:00 AM today
The government has called an all-party meeting on Thursday to inform political leaders about the recent military strike targeting terrorist locations in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju shared details of the meeting on X, stating that it will take place at 11 am on May 8, 2025, in Room G-074 of the Parliament Library Building in New Delhi.
Pak troops continue shelling along LoC, Indian army responds: Officials
The Pakistan Army continued shelling across the Line of Control (LoC) in four sectors of Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday, drawing a proportional response from the Indian Army, officials said.
The intensity of the cross-border fire was lower than on Wednesday, when Pakistan carried out one of the most severe artillery and mortar shellings in recent years. That escalation followed India’s missile strikes under ‘Operation Sindoor’, which targeted key sites inside Pakistan. Thursday’s firing remained confined to four sectors, officials added.
PTI
Blast heard in Lahore: Report
A loud blast was reported Thursday morning in Lahore, a major city in eastern Pakistan, according to broadcaster Geo TV and a Reuters eyewitness. The incident comes just a day after Indian airstrikes.
Reuters