J&K Pahalgam Terror Attack Highlights: Defence institute denies Pakistani hacking claims; Home Ministry asks several states to conduct mock drills

Former Pakistan PM and cricketer Imran Khan’s X account blocked in India. Earlier, government has suspended Instagram, YouTube and X handles of several Pakistani leaders and celebrities post Pahalgam terror attack citing ‘Pak propaganda’.

Amid India-Pakistan tension, an ordnance factory in Jabalpur’s Khamaria has cancelled all employee and officer leaves with immediate effect, according to Deputy Director Avinash Shankar.

The directive, issued by the Chief General Manager, affects all staff who had applied for leave exceeding two days. The move follows an internal meeting held on Thursday, though no official reason has been disclosed. The sudden decision has sparked speculation about increased operational urgency at the facility.

On India bans all imports from Pakistan, BJP national spokesperson Syed Shahnawaz Hussain says, “No trade will be done with Pakistan, either via airways, waterways or land. India is answering Pakistan in the language that it understands… We have to teach Pakistan a lesson at any cost. We are making efforts to declare Pakistan a terror state and isolate it from the world…”

Im Rajasthan’s Jaisalmer, Amed Khan, a resident of Samdhey Khan Ki Dhani- the last village on the India-Pakistan border, speaks on Pahalgam incident and national unity.

Khan says “All the villagers here belong to the Muslim community. The Pahalgam attack was absolutely wrong. The people who died were just tourists. The government should give the terrorists a befitting reply. Villagers, BSF and Army have been staying here peacefully for the last 40-50 years. We have and will always stand with India. We were born in this soil and will be buried in it. Whatever action the government takes, we stand with it completely. There are around 150-200 people in this village and around 50 houses.”

The Indian Army is set to acquire shoulder-fired Very Short Range Air Defence Systems (Next Generation) to counter enemy aircraft, helicopters, and drones, defence officials said.

As part of the ‘Make in India‘ initiative, the Army has placed an initial requirement for 48 launchers and 85 missiles, along with associated equipment, they added.

While an Indian jawan is still in Pakistan’s custody, BSF on Saturday apprehended a Pakistani Ranger along the India-Pakistan international border in Rajasthan. As per several reports, the Pak ranger was caught spying and he was trying to infiltrate into India.

Read More: BSF apprehends Pakistani Ranger along international border in Rajasthan, Indian jawan still detained in Pak

Hours after his dismissal, CRPF constable Munir Ahmed asserted that he had obtained official permission before marrying a Pakistani woman. The Jammu native, who joined the force in 2017, said he married Minal Khan nearly a month after receiving clearance from CRPF headquarters last year.

The CRPF has dismissed Ahmed for allegedly “concealing” his cross-border marriage and “harbouring” his wife beyond her visa validity—actions deemed detrimental to national security. The move follows heightened diplomatic tensions after the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people, prompting India to ask all Pakistani nationals to leave.

Ahmed said he first learned of his dismissal through the media before receiving a formal letter. “It was a shock. I will challenge this in court—I’m confident of getting justice,” he told PTI from his home in Gharota.

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said that Pakistan responded in a “responsible and measured” manner to what he described as India’s “provocative actions” following the Pahalgam terror attack. His comments came during a meeting with Turkiye’s Ambassador Dr. Irfan Neziroglu in Islamabad on Saturday, as reported by Radio Pakistan.

Sharif asserted that despite heightened tensions after the attack—which killed 26 people, including a Nepalese tourist—Pakistan refrained from escalating the situation. He reiterated Pakistan’s firm opposition to terrorism, stating that the country condemns all forms of terrorist activity.

The prime minister also accused India of making baseless allegations, saying, “India has failed to share any evidence and is falsely trying to link Pakistan to the Pahalgam attack.” Sharif’s remarks come amid ongoing diplomatic strain between the two nations.

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has successfully conducted the first flight-trial of a stratospheric airship platform from its trial site in Sheopur, Madhya Pradesh, the Defence Ministry announced on Saturday.

Developed by the Aerial Delivery Research and Development Establishment (ADRDE) in Agra, the airship reached an altitude of approximately 17 km while carrying an instrumental payload.

According to the ministry’s official statement, data from onboard sensors was successfully received during the trial. This data will be used to develop high-fidelity simulation models to aid in future high-altitude airship missions.

The successful test marks a significant step in India’s efforts to develop advanced aerial surveillance and communication platforms, especially for strategic and defence applications. The project aims to support long-endurance missions in the stratosphere, offering persistent coverage and monitoring capabilities that conventional airborne platforms may not achieve.

The Indian Army said that during the night of 03–04 May 2025, Pakistan Army posts resorted to unprovoked small arms fire across the LoC in areas opposite Kupwara, Baramulla, Poonch, Rajauri, Mendhar, Naushera, Sunderbani, and Akhnoor in J&K. The Indian Army has responded promptly and proportionately.

Maritime authorities have advised commercial vessels to remain alert while operating in select areas of the Arabian Sea because of ongoing naval exercises being conducted by the Indian Navy.

According to PTI sources familiar with the matter, Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi is believed to have briefed Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the broader security situation in these strategically important waters. The advisory has been issued as part of routine safety measures with an aim at ensuring smooth maritime operations during the drills.

As part of an intensified crackdown following the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people, police carried out extensive raids across multiple locations in Srinagar on Saturday, according to a report by news agency PTI.

A Jammu and Kashmir Police spokesperson said the searches were aimed at dismantling the terror support infrastructure in the district. The operation targeted associates of proscribed terrorist organisations and is being conducted under provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).

A Pakistani Ranger was apprehended by the Border Security Force (BSF) along the India-Pakistan border in Rajasthan, official sources said on Saturday. The incident comes nearly two weeks after a BSF jawan was detained by Pakistani Rangers amid heightened tensions following the Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir, where 26 people, mostly tourists, were killed. The apprehended Ranger is currently in the custody of the BSF’s Rajasthan frontier.

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah discussed key issues with Prime Minister Narendra Modi concerning the Union Territory, with a primary focus on the recent terror attack in Baisaran Valley, Pahalgam. An official spokesperson said Abdullah conveyed the deep grief and anger felt by the people of Jammu and Kashmir and briefed Modi on the security situation following the attack that killed 26 people, mostly tourists.

Abdullah informed the prime minister about widespread public outrage and spontaneous protests across the region, marking a rare display of unified civilian resistance to terrorism since its emergence in 1989. He emphasized the unanimous resolution passed by the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly on April 28, condemning the attack and underscoring the collective resolve to fight extremism.

Tourism, Amarnath Yatra security discussed
The chief minister also discussed the impact of the attack on the region’s tourism economy and the upcoming Amarnath Yatra, set to begin on July 3. Abdullah highlighted the bravery of local pony ride operator Syed Adil Hussain Shah, who lost his life trying to protect tourists, calling for stronger security arrangements ahead of the pilgrimage.

In a recent conversation, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar addressed the escalating tensions between India and Pakistan, following the deadly Pahalgam terror attack. According to reports from ANI, citing the Russian Foreign Ministry, the two leaders also discussed the strengthening of bilateral cooperation between Russia and India.

Lavrov stressed the importance of resolving the ongoing issues between New Delhi and Islamabad through political and diplomatic means, in line with the Simla Agreement (1972) and the Lahore Declaration (1999). The two ministers also reviewed the upcoming schedule for high-level engagements between the two nations.

As tensions mount following the deadly terror attack in Pahalgam, Indian Navy chief Admiral Dinesh Kumar Tripathi met Prime Minister Narendra Modi at his residence on Saturday evening. The meeting comes in the wake of India’s stern response to the attack’s suspected cross-border links, which claimed 26 lives last week.

In a series of fresh punitive measures, India has announced a ban on the entry of Pakistani-flagged ships into Indian ports. The Directorate General of Shipping (DGS) also stated that Indian vessels are now prohibited from docking at Pakistani ports, marking a sharp escalation in maritime restrictions between the two nations.

The BJP on Saturday launched a sharp attack on the Congress after former Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi questioned the authenticity of the 2019 airstrikes. BJP spokesperson and MP Sambit Patra condemned the remarks, accusing the Congress of aligning with Pakistan’s narrative at a sensitive time for national security.

Patra went further, calling the Congress Working Committee (CWC) the “Pakistan Working Committee,” and said the party was undermining the Indian armed forces just days after the tragic Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 civilians.

The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) has dismissed jawan Munir Ahmed for concealing his marriage to a Pakistani woman, a move deemed harmful to national security. Ahmed, last posted with the CRPF’s 41st battalion, married Menal Khan via video call on May 24, 2023, but failed to inform authorities.

The marriage came to light after Pakistan nationals were asked to leave India following the Pahalgam terror attack. A CRPF probe revealed Ahmed knowingly allowed his wife to overstay her visa. He was dismissed without an inquiry under service rules due to the severity of the breach.

JKNC posts on ‘X’: ” Chief Minister J&K Omar Abdullah called on the Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi and discussed various issues, including last week’s Pahalgam Terror Attack.”

Sri Lankan police on Saturday conducted a search of a flight arriving from Chennai after receiving a tip-off that a suspect linked to the recent Pahalgam terror attack could be onboard. The flight, operated by SriLankan Airlines, landed at Colombo’s Bandaranaike International Airport at 11:59 am.

A comprehensive security inspection was carried out in coordination with local authorities following an alert from Chennai Area Control Centre. The suspect was reportedly wanted in connection with the terror attack in Pahalgam, India. After a thorough search, the aircraft was cleared and allowed to proceed with further operations.

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi on Saturday to discuss various issues, including the Pahalgam terror attack.

The 30-minute meeting, held at the Prime Minister’s residence, marked the first discussion between the two leaders since the April 22 attack, which killed 26 people.

Jammu and Kashmir CM Omar Abdullah to meet PM Modi on Saturday for the first time since the Pahalgam terror attack. Reports suggest that the two leaders will discuss security measures during their meeting.

Days before the deadly terror attack in Pahalgam, intelligence agencies had warned of a potential strike targeting tourists, particularly in hotels near the Zabarwan range on Srinagar’s outskirts, officials said.

In response, security forces ramped up patrolling around Dachigam, Nishat, and surrounding areas, recalling a deadly attack in Gangangir, Sonamarg in October 2023. Despite a two-week-long combing operation led by senior police officials, no leads were found. Ironically, the operation was called off on April 22—the very day terrorists attacked tourists in Pahalgam, killing 26 and exposing a major lapse in preventive security.

(PTI report)

Ajay Srivastava, Founder of the Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI), stated in a note that India’s already minimal imports from Pakistan—around USD 0.5 million annually—will now fall to zero. “No one in India will miss anything except perhaps Himalayan pink salt (Sendha Namak),” Srivastava said.

Read More: India’s trade ban hits Pakistan’s $10 billion supply of key goods, including food items, cotton, spices and pharmaceuticals

Jammu and Kashmir National Conference chief Farooq Abdullah met with tourists in Pahalgam on Saturday, delivering a strong message of resilience following the recent terror attack. “The people who wanted to spread fear have lost,” he told reporters, emphasising that tourists were undeterred.

Reaffirming Kashmir is part of India, he said, “Kashmir was and will always be a part of India.” Abdullah stressed that after 35 years of enduring terrorism, the people now seek peace, progress, and development, expressing hope that India will rise as a superpower in the years to come.

The Abdali (Hatf-II), developed by Pakistan’s Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO), is a road-mobile, solid-propellant missile system designed for battlefield use.

Read More: What is the Abdali ballistic missile? Pakistan test-fires 450 km-range missile amid post-Pahalgam tensions with India

The central government has suspended all categories of inbound mail and parcel exchanges from Pakistan via both air and surface routes, according to a notice issued by the Ministry of Communications on Saturday, says report.

The move follows the April 22 terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam district, which claimed the lives of 26 civilians.

India has termed Pakistan’s test-firing surface-to-surface ballistic missiles amid heightened tensions as a “reckless act of provocation” and a “dangerous escalation,” sources said Saturday.

The move follows the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 civilians, with India vowing severe punishment and citing cross-border links.

Officials said Pakistan has been issuing naval alerts, increasing drills in the Arabian Sea, and violating ceasefire agreements along the LoC, drawing strong concern from New Delhi and calls for de-escalation globally.

Pakistan on Saturday announced the successful test launch of the Abdali Weapon System, a short-range surface-to-surface ballistic missile capable of striking targets up to 450 kilometers away. The launch, conducted as part of Exercise INDUS, comes at a time of heightened tensions with India.

Read More: Pahalgam Terror Attack: Pakistan claims test-firing of 450 km-range Abdali ballistic missile amid ongoing border tensions with India

India has banned Pakistani-flagged ships from entering Indian ports and prohibited Indian-flagged vessels from visiting ports in Pakistan.