Rusi K. Banker

In anticipation of potential retaliation from Pakistan, India has fortified its defense systems across land, air, and sea. The air defense network is activated, warships are deployed, and frontline units are prepared. Strategic Forces Command is on high alert, with new weapon systems integrated since Balakot, enhancing India's readiness to respond to any misadventure.

India conducted military strikes, Operation Sindoor, targeting terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan, citing the Pahalgam attack as a catalyst. Foreign Secretary Misri emphasized the strikes were non-escalatory and proportionate, linking the TRF to Lashkar-e-Taiba and Pakistan. India aims to deter further cross-border attacks and dismantle terror networks, highlighting Pakistan's failure to act against its own terrorist infrastructure and its history of misleading the international community on terrorism.

Unlike the past cross-border operations in PoK and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, this time India has targeted the headquarters of globally banned terror groups JeM and Lashkar, located deep inside Pakistan’s Punjab

India conducted a nationwide civil defence exercise named 'Operation Abhyaas'. The exercise simulated various emergency scenarios across multiple states and union territories. Drills included air raids, fire emergencies, and rescue missions. Delhi experienced sirens, evacuations, and a brief blackout. Other states like Punjab, Maharashtra, and Tamil Nadu also conducted similar exercises.

Following the Pahalgam terror attack, Prime Minister Modi authorized Operation Sindoor, defying international calls for restraint and skepticism about India's response. The precision strikes, showcasing advanced weaponry, countered Pakistan's nuclear threats and reaffirmed Modi's strong stance on national security. This decisive action silenced critics and bolstered public confidence, signaling a higher risk appetite for future security challenges and reinforcing the BJP's dominance in security matters.

A nationwide civil defence drill, initiated by the home ministry, saw widespread participation exceeding initial expectations, encompassing nearly 350 districts and 1.5 million individuals. The exercise aimed to test and reinforce safety protocols like blackouts and evacuations, revealing both successful enforcement and identified gaps in the existing civil defence infrastructure, particularly regarding outdated equipment and coordination in key areas like Delhi airport.

As tensions rose between India and Pakistan after Operation Sindoor, China called India’s actions regrettable and other world leaders called for restraint. But it is US President Donald Trump’s reaction that will worry India

European leaders are actively courting American researchers with substantial financial incentives, viewing U.S. cuts to research funding as a critical mistake. France and the European Commission have pledged significant investments, totaling hundreds of millions of dollars, to attract talent and bolster their own research programs.

India executed precision strikes on key terror infrastructure inside Pakistan, targeting Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Muhammed strongholds. The strikes hit training camps and operational headquarters, including Muridke and Bahawalpur, long protected by Pakistan's military-intelligence apparatus. These facilities served as hubs for training, indoctrination, and planning numerous terror attacks against India, including the Pulwama attack, before being neutralized.

The government has scheduled an all-party meeting on Thursday to brief key political leaders on Operation Sindoor. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju announced the meeting, which Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is expected to chair. Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge will attend, with the party hoping Prime Minister Modi will preside over the briefing following the operation.