A day after India launched a series of precision missile strikes targeting terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir, northern border states including Rajasthan and Punjab have been placed on high alert. The heightened state of preparedness comes in the wake of Operation Sindoor, India’s retaliatory offensive against the perpetrators of the Pahalgam terror attack, which claimed 26 innocent lives earlier this week.
In Rajasthan, which shares a 1,037-km-long border with Pakistan, security forces have ramped up surveillance and enforced strict border control measures. The entire stretch has been sealed, and Border Security Force (BSF) personnel have been issued shoot-on-sight orders in case of any suspicious activity. Indian Air Force (IAF) operations have intensified, with fighter jets including Sukhoi-30 MKIs patrolling the skies from Ganganagar to the Rann of Kutch.
Airports in Jodhpur, Kishangarh, and Bikaner have suspended all civilian flight operations until May 9 to allow for uninterrupted air patrols and readiness. Missile defense systems have also been activated across the western sector as part of the enhanced defensive posture.
In view of the escalating tension, schools in Bikaner, Sri Ganganagar, Jaisalmer, and Barmer districts have been closed until further notice. Exams have been postponed, and leave for police and railway staff has been cancelled. Local authorities have also activated evacuation protocols for villages near the international border, while anti-drone systems are now operational along vulnerable stretches. In Jaisalmer and Jodhpur, night-time blackout orders are in effect from midnight to 4 am to counter possible aerial threats.
Punjab, another frontline state, has mirrored the alertness with similar precautionary measures. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has called off all official engagements, citing security concerns. Leaves of all police personnel have been revoked, and public gatherings across the state have been restricted to prevent potential targets of retaliation. Security has been particularly tightened in border districts such as Amritsar, Ferozepur, and Pathankot.
The tension follows India’s strategic strike on Tuesday, which involved 24 missile attacks targeting nine terror-linked sites across Pakistan and PoK. The Indian government has clarified that the strikes were meticulously planned to avoid military installations and focused solely on dismantling terror camps operated by banned groups including Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed.
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, in a press briefing, emphasized that the operation was “measured, non-escalatory, proportionate, and responsible.” He stated, “Our action was aimed at disabling the infrastructure used by terrorists who have repeatedly targeted our civilians and security personnel.”
Operation Sindoor was carried out in response to the brutal Pahalgam terror attack, which was claimed by The Resistance Front—a known proxy of Lashkar-e-Taiba. Indian intelligence reports confirmed that the camps targeted were actively being used to train militants for cross-border operations.
In Islamabad, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has condemned the missile strikes, calling them an “act of war,” and warned that Pakistan reserves the right to respond “befittingly.” The international community has so far urged restraint, fearing further escalation between the two nuclear-armed neighbors.
As border regions brace for potential retaliatory actions, both Indian states and central forces remain on high vigil, determined to safeguard civilian life and maintain national security.
