New Delhi: Amid heightened tensions with Pakistan following the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, the Centre has directed multiple states to conduct coordinated civil defence mock drills on Wednesday, May 7. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has called for these exercises to ensure “effective civil defence in the event of a hostile attack”, NDTV reported quoting sources.
This is the first such nationwide drill since 1971, when India and Pakistan went to war. The timing of this order is being seen as significant, coming amid persistent ceasefire violations by Pakistan and a build-up in India’s military and diplomatic response to the Pahalgam attack that left 26 civilians dead.
What has happened since the Pahalgam attack:
- For 11 consecutive nights, Pakistani forces have fired at Indian Army posts along the Line of Control (LoC). India has responded with equal intensity, indicating no immediate signs of de-escalation.
- In Punjab’s Ferozepur cantonment, electricity was cut from 9 to 9:30 pm as part of a rehearsal. The Cantonment Board instructed PSPCL (Punjab State Power Corporation Ltd) to enforce the blackout, aimed at testing wartime readiness.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi has held back-to-back meetings with the chiefs of the Army, Navy, and Air Force. On Monday, he met Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh. A day earlier, he held talks with Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh. The PM is closely monitoring operational plans and security updates.
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PM Modi has warned that the perpetrators of the Pahalgam terror strike will face “punishment they cannot imagine.” Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also hinted at imminent retaliation, saying, “What you desire will certainly happen.”
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India has suspended the Indus Waters Treaty of 1960, a step not taken even during the 1965, 1971, or Kargil wars. Additionally, India has reduced the strength of Pakistani diplomatic staff in New Delhi.
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In response, Pakistan has warned that halting the water treaty would be considered an act of war. It has threatened to withdraw from all bilateral agreements, including the Simla Agreement, which underpins the legal basis for the LoC.
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For the past 11 days, Pakistan has repeatedly violated the 2003 Ceasefire Agreement, further straining ties and prompting concerns about the possibility of a wider military conflict.
