Operation Sindoor: Blackout In Jammu, Amritsar; Punjab Sets Up Control Room To Oversee Situation

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Indian military carried out a "measured, non-escalatory, proportionate, and responsible" strike to dismantle terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan to "deter and to pre-empt" any further terrorist strikes, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said, hours after India retaliated the Pahalgam attack.

Addressing a packed press conference here, Misri said it was deemed essential that the perpetrators and planners of the April 22 attack be brought to justice as there was "no demonstrable" step from Islamabad to take action against the terror infrastructure on its territory or on territory under its control.

"Our intelligence monitoring of Pakistan-based terrorist modules indicated that further attacks against India were impending," he said at the briefing, which was also addressed by Col. Sofia Qureshi and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh.

The foreign secretary's comments came hours after India struck nine terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied-Kashmir with missiles and drones under an operation christened 'Operation Sindoor'.

The Pakistan Army continued shelling along the Line of Control (LoC) in four sectors of Jammu and Kashmir, prompting a befitting response by the Indian Army, officials said on Thursday.

Compared to Wednesday, when the Pakistan Army carried out one of the most intense artillery and mortar shelling in years targeting the forward villages in J-K following missile strikes by India as part of 'Operation Sindoor', the intensity of cross-border firing was less and restricted to four sectors on Thursday, the officials said.

"On the intervening night of May 7 and 8, Pakistan Army resorted to unprovoked firing using small arms and artillery guns across the LoC in areas opposite Kupwara, Baramulla, Uri and Akhnoor sectors in J-K. The Indian Army responded proportionately," a defence spokesman said in Jammu.

The officials said there was no report of any casualties in the skirmishes.

The worst-hit Poonch sector in Jammu, which recorded 13 deaths in Wednesday's intense shelling, remained by and large peaceful at night, they said.

A blast was heard in Pakistan's eastern city of Lahore on Thursday morning, according to broadcaster Geo TV and a Reuters witness, a day after Indian strikes at multiple locations in the country strengthened fears about an escalation of military conflict between the nuclear-armed neighbours.

- Reuters

Shortly after lights went out in Amritsar as part of a nationwide civil defence mock drill, the district administration again carried out a blackout rehearsal in the early hours of Thursday, urging residents to remain indoors and not panic.

The drill began around 1.30 am.

"Taking utmost caution, the Amritsar district administration has again started the blackout drill," said a message shared by the Amritsar District Public Relations Officer.

"Please stay at home, do not panic, do not gather outside your homes and keep the outside lights of your houses switched off," it said.

The drill was earlier carried out in Amritsar from 10:30 pm to 11 pm.

Read : Fear Sweeps Across Cities In India and Pakistan Amid Viral Hoaxes Of Fresh Attacks

In view of the escalating tension, the authorities have ordered that all educational institutions in five border districts of Jammu region will remain closed for the second day on Thursday.

In a post on X, Divisional Commissioner Ramesh Kumar said that all schools, colleges and educational institutions in Jammu, Samba, Kathua, Rajouri and Poonch districts will remain closed for the second day on Thursday in view of the prevailing situation.

The administration in Jammu division has also set up 24x7 control rooms in all the 10 districts of the region.

Thursday's shelling was the 14th consecutive night of firing along the borders in Jammu and Kashmir amid heightened tension following the Pahalgam attack.

Ceasefire violations along the LoC and the International Border have been very rare after India and Pakistan renewed the ceasefire agreement on February 25, 2021. 

- PTI

A drone crashed near the village of Diwalian in the Dhman area of Chakwal on Tuesday, according to police. No casualties were reported in the incident. Law enforcement agencies arrived at the scene and secured the drone's debris, police confirmed. The cause of the crash remains unclear, and an investigation is currently underway.

- Geo TV

Amid soaring tension between India and Pakistan, all schools in six border districts of Punjab remained shut on Thursday, officials said.

The schools were closed in Ferozepur, Pathankot, Fazilka, Amritsar, Gurdaspur and Tarn Taran districts, they said.

The Tarn Taran deputy commissioner issued an order that said all schools in the district will remain closed from May 8 till 11.

In Ferozepur, the authorities ordered closure of schools for the next 72 hours till further orders, officials said.

Schools in Fazilka would also remain closed till further orders, they said.

A top American military commander has said that the US is “watching the situation very closely” after Indian military strikes on terror targets in PoK and Pakistan's Punjab province.

India launched Operation Sindoor early Wednesday, hitting nine terror targets in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and Pakistan's Punjab province in retaliation for the April 22 terror attack that killed 26 people in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam.

“It’s right now too early to opine on any of that. We’re watching the situation very closely. We’re nested with our higher headquarters and USINDOPACOM as the information about these strikes becomes more clear,” US Army Pacific Commanding General, General Ronald Clark said during a digital press briefing Wednesday.

The United States Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM) is one of six geographic Unified Combatant Commands of the United States Armed Forces, headquartered in Hawaii.

Clark was responding to a question on the US view of the developing situation after the strikes by India.

The rising tensions between India and Pakistan in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack and Op Sindoor targeting terror camps in PoK was debated at length in the British Parliament, with members across parties appealing for UK efforts to aid de-escalation in the region.

UK Foreign Office Minister Hamish Falconer opened the debate in the House of Commons on Wednesday with a statement reiterating Prime Minister Keir Starmer's earlier remarks over the importance of diplomacy and dialogue.

He also expressed concerns related to the very “personal” aspect of the conflict for a large number of British Indians and British Pakistanis in the country.

“Our consistent message to both India and Pakistan has been to show restraint. They need to engage in dialogue to find a swift, diplomatic path forward,” said Falconer.

“The UK has a close and unique relationship with both countries. It is heartbreaking to see civilian lives being lost. If this escalates further, nobody wins. We clearly condemned the horrific terrorist attack last month,” he said referring to the Pahalgam terror attack and said it was the worst such attack for many years for that region.

Punjab Police cancels leaves of all its officers and employees with immediate effect, says the Police department.

- ANI

The central government has convened an all-party meeting at 11 am today to brief key political leaders about Operation Sindoor.

Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju announced on Wednesday that the meeting will take place at 11 am on May 8, 2025, at Committee Room G-074, Parliament Library Building, in the Parliament Complex, New Delhi.

The meeting is expected to be chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.

US President Donald Trump has said he wants India and Pakistan to “stop” what he described as “tit for tat” actions, saying if he can do anything to “help”, he will be there.

“Oh it’s so terrible. My position is I get along with both. I know both very well and I want to see them work it out. I want to see them stop and hopefully they can stop now. They have gone tit for tat, so hopefully they can stop now. I know both, we get along with both the countries very well.

“Good relationships with both and I want to see it stop. And If I can do anything to help, I will be there,” Trump said in response to a question on the “war” between India and Pakistan.

Read : Donald Trump Offers To Help 'End' India-Pakistan Tensions After Operation Sindoor, Says 'We Get Along With Both'

NSA Ajit Doval is briefing PM Narendra Modi on current developments a day after Operation Sindoor.

- India Today

As the All-Party meeting convened by the government begins on Thursday morning, Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju addressed the audience, he said, “Our country has taken a major action. We have convened an all-party meeting on Operation Sindoor, which was carried out by our armed forces. It is the government’s responsibility to brief all parties on the situation, as directed by the Prime Minister. The entire country stands firmly with the armed forces.”

Amit Shah, Rahul Gandhi, and S Jaishankar reached for all party meet.

The meeting is expected to be chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.

The meeting is taking place at 11 am on May 8, 2025, at Committee Room G-074, Parliament Library Building, in the Parliament Complex, New Delhi.

With India carrying out precise missile strikes at nine terror targets in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) in retaliation for the Pahalgam terror attack, Rajasthan, which shares border with the neighbouring country, has gone into full alert mode.

The Rajasthan government has reportedly cancelled leaves of all administrative officials and police personnel deployed in the border areas.

In Rajasthan, all government and private schools have been shut in four border districts -- Sri Ganganagar, Bikaner, Jaisalmer and Barmer -- as a precautionary measure.

The administrations in these four districts have made preparations for any emergency situation that may arise, officials said.

Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma has directed the concerned officials to cancel the leaves of all policemen in view of the soaring tension following 'Operation Sindoor'.

Chief Secretary Sudhansh Pant and DGP U R Sahoo also chaired a review meeting with the divisional commissioners, collectors, IGPs and SPs, directing them to be present at their respective headquarters, sources said.

Directions have been issued to tighten security arrangements across the state. 

- PTI inputs

According to India Today, opposition leaders will be briefed on every detail of Operation Sindoor at the all-party meeting chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.

In the all-party meet, the government will urge the opposition to remain united in this critical hour and will highlight the bravery and valour of the armed forces.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s message for the meeting is clear: “Every citizen needs to stand united.”

Union minister Rajnath Singh is chairing the meeting and other Union Ministers Amit Shah, S Jaishankar, J P Nadda, Kiren Rijiju and Nirmala Sitharaman are representing the government, while Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge from the Congress, Sandip Bandyopadhyay of the Trinamool Congress and DMK's T R Baalu were among the leading opposition figures in the meeting.

Other opposition leaders included Ram Gopal Yadav of the Samajwadi Party, Sanjay Singh of the AAP, Shiv Sena (UBT)'s Sanjay Raut, NCP (SP)'s Supriya Sule, BJD's Sasmit Patra and CPI(M)'s John Brittas.

JD(U) leader Sanjay Jha, Union minister and LJP (Ram Vilas) leader Chirag Paswan and AIMIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi were also part of the meeting.

Pakistan's ceasefire violations along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir have claimed lives of 13 civilians in Poonch sector, and injured a total of 59 people, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Thursday.

Out of the total injured, 44 were from Poonch, the external publicity division of the MEA said.

The Pakistan Army has been resorting to heavy shelling in several sectors along the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir that was effectively responded to by the Indian Army, military officials said.

The intensity of Pakistani shelling has increased following India's military strikes on nine terror infrastructures in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir early Wednesday.

"During the intervening night of May 7 and 8, Pakistan Army posts resorted to unprovoked fire using small arms and artillery guns across the LoC in areas opposite Kupwara, Baramulla, Uri and Akhnoor in Jammu and Kashmir," a military official said.

"The Indian Army responded proportionately," the official added.

Border Security Force has neutralized a Pakistani intruder in Punjab's Ferozpur sector on the intervening night of May 7-8: Sources The Pakistani intruder was observed crossing the International Border purposefully and moving towards border security fence taking advantage of darkness. He was fired upon by vigilant BSF troops after challenging in the Ferozpur sector. After day break the body was handed over to the police.

- ANI

Amid the high tension between India and Pakistan, schools in several border states have been closed for the second consecutive day.

The Punjab and Rajasthan governments also cancelled leaves of all administrative officials and police personnel deployed in border areas. Read Here

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh tells all-party meeting that at least 100 terrorists killed in Indian strikes under Op Sindoor, sources told PTI.

Security has been stepped up along the Gujarat coast, and authorities have cancelled the leaves of police personnel “due to unforeseen situation”, asking them to return to duty immediately, officials told PTI.

Gujarat shares land and sea borders with Pakistan.

The office of the state Director General of Police, Vikas Sahay, on Wednesday night issued an order cancelling the leaves of all police officers of cities and districts “due to unforeseen situation” and asked them to return to duty with immediate effect.

Ashok Kumar Yadav, Inspector General of Rajkot Range, said police along the coast have been put on “alert” mode after India’s anti-terror strikes in Pakistan.

-PTI

External Affairs Minister at a a meeting with Iran's counterpart said, "India's response to Pahalgam terror attack was targeted and measured."

-PTI

Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) chief Masood Azhar’s brother was critically injured in Indian airstrikes carried out under Operation Sindoor in Pakistan's Bahawalpur, according to intelligence sources.

Masood Azhar’s brother, who is also the terror group's second-in-command, is currently undergoing treatment at a Pakistani military hospital, the sources added.

- India Today

Border Security Force says it is stopping ceremonial retreat events at all 3 border points along Pakistan border in Punjab in view of public safety.

Three explosions were heard in quick succession in Walton Road of Pakistan's Lahore on Thursday, prompting residents to rush out of their homes in fear, ARY News reported, citing police. The blasts happened in the vicinity of Gulberg, which is one of Lahore's most upscale and sensitive districts.

Lahore Police said that the explosions occurred within moments of each other. The blasts were so loud that people who were several kilometres away heard its sound and rushed to streets in confusion and fear.

Emergency response teams, including Rescue and Firefighting units, have reached the site of the incident. Furthermore, the police have cordoned off the area, ARY News reported.

Emergency response teams, including Rescue and Firefighting units, have reached the site of the incident. Furthermore, the police have cordoned off the area, ARY News reported.

According to officials, investigations were being made to determine the nature and source of the explosions. The authorities have sealed the area and unrelated people have been restricted from entering the area as bomb disposal and intelligence teams start their preliminary assessment, ARY News reported.

Meanwhile, the Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA) has temporarily suspended flight operations at airports in Karachi, Lahore, and Sialkot, local media outlet Aaj News reported.

According to PAA, the airports in Lahore and Sialkot will remain unavailable for all flights until 12 pm on Thursday (local time). The flight schedules of both domestic and international flights have been impacted due to the suspension, Aaj News reported.

Passengers have been asked to contact their respective airlines to get updates regarding their flight timings and possible delays

- Times Of India

Parliament's Public Accounts Committee on Thursday adopted a unanimous resolution congratulating the armed forces for 'Operation Sindoor' in which terror targets in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir were hit.

PAC chairperson K C Venugopal said in the first meeting of the newly-constituted panel for 2025-26, the resolution was adopted supporting and congratulating the armed forces for the operation.

Referring to the PAC agenda for the next one year, he said members were of the view that people-related issues should be examined besides audit paragraphs of CAG reports.

Reliance Industries Limited and five others have approached the Controller General of Patents Design and Trade Marks for the registration of term "Operation Sindoor".

The military strikes were carried out under "Operation Sindoor" two weeks after the massacre of 26 civilians in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam.

RIL was first to file the trademark application for the term under trademark Class 41 which covers services like education and entertainment.

According to the details available on the website of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, RIL and five others have so far moved applications seeking trademark registration.

Besides RIL, other applicants -- Mukesh Chetram Agrawal, Group Captain (retired) Kamal Singh Oberh, Alok Kothari, Jayaraj T and Uttam -- have also sought registering the term.

In view of the current situation, the Deputy Commissioner of Gurdaspur has ordered a district-wide blackout from 9 PM to 5 AM starting tonight, until further notice.

Hospitals and the central jail are exempt but must ensure windows and doors remain closed.

Pakistan Defence Ministry in a statement said, "This morning, the Indian Armed Forces targeted Air Defence Radars and systems at a number of locations in Pakistan. Indian response has been in the same domain with same intensity as Pakistan. It has been reliably learnt that an Air Defence system at Lahore has been neutralised."

"Pakistan has increased the intensity of its unprovoked firing across the Line of Control using Mortars and heavy calibre Artillery in areas in Kupwara, Baramulla, Uri, Poonch, Mendhar and Rajouri sectors in Jammu and Kashmir," the ministry added.

(Inputs from TOI)

The Defence Ministry of India issued a statement on Thursday that, "On the night of 07-08 May 2025, Pakistan attempted to engage a number of military targets in Northern and Western India using drones and missiles, all of which were effectively neutralised by the Integrated Counter UAS Grid and Air Defence systems."

It further said, "In response, Indian Armed Forces targeted Air Defence Radars and systems in various locations in Pakistan. The intense unprovoked firing by Pakistan along the Line of Control has led to the loss of 16 innocent Indian lives and our forces acted decisively to silence the hostile fire. India’s response has been in the same domain, with the same intensity, and remains focused, measured, and is non-escalatory."

A day after the launch of India's terror base-targeted attack 'Operation Sindoor' against Pakistan, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Thursday reportedly directed all states to ramp up surveillance on dissemination of anti-national propaganda on social and digital platforms.

As per media reports, Centre issued the advisory for all the state governments and union territories amid the visible surge of disinformation campaign by the neighbouring nation following India’s retaliation after the deadly April 22 Pahalgam attack.

Reports said that the Home Ministry specifically has directed authorities to take stringent actions against accounts that are taking part in spreading of alleged fake narratives.

Read Full Story On MHA Advisory To States Across India

In the first official statement after India launches Operation Sindoor, the Defence Ministry confirmed that the intense unprovoked firing by Pakistan along the Line of Control has led to the loss of 16 innocent Indian lives, and our forces acted decisively to silence the hostile fire.

In an official statement by the Ministry of Defence said that on the night of 07-08 May 2025, Pakistan attempted to engage a number of military targets in Northern and Western India using drones and missiles, all of which were effectively neutralised by the Integrated Counter UAS Grid and Air Defence systems.

Read Full Story

A number of military targets in Northern and Western India including Awantipura, Srinagar, Jammu, Pathankot, Amritsar, Kapurthala, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Adampur, Bhatinda, Chandigarh, Nal, Phalodi, Uttarlai, and Bhuj, using Pak drones and missiles, PIB said in a release.

PIB added: "These were neutralised by the Integrated Counter UAS Grid and Air Defence systems. The debris of these attacks is now being recovered from a number of locations that prove the Pakistani attacks."

Reliance Industries Limited which had earlier applied for a trademark for 'Operation Sindoor' had now withdrawn the application.

After receiving flak, the company in a statement: "Reliance Industries has no intention of trademarking Operation Sindoor, a phrase which is now a part of the national consciousness as an evocative symbol of Indian bravery.

Jio Studios, a unit of Reliance Industries, has withdrawn its trademark application, which was filed inadvertently by a junior person without authorisation. Reliance Industries and all its stakeholders are incredibly proud of Operation Sindoor, which came about in response to a Pakistan-sponsored terrorist attack in Pahalgam.

Operation Sindoor is the proud achievement of our brave Armed Forces in India's uncompromising fight against the evil of terrorism. Reliance stands fully in support of our Government and Armed Forces in this fight against terrorism. Our commitment to the motto of 'INDIA FIRST' remains unwavering."

India has no intention to escalate the situation with Pakistan but if there are military attacks on the country, then it will be met with a “very” firm response, says External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar.

“This attack compelled us to respond on May 7 by striking at the cross-border terrorist infrastructure. Our response was targeted and measured,” he adds.

The banned Jaish-e-Mohammed’s terror group’s two ‘Markaz’ (centres) – its Bahawalpur headquarters and Narowal in Pakistan’s Punjab – functioned as a breeding ground for suicide attackers, had links with Palestine’s Hamas and served as a facility for hoarding smuggled NATO arms from Afghanistan, officials said to PTI.

Both these centres located on the opposite ends of Pakistan’s Punjab province were among the nine targets hit by missiles launched by the Indian Air Force (IAF) in the early hours of Wednesday, in a strong retaliation to the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, in which 25 tourists and a local guide were gunned down by terrorists.

According to the officials, the Bahawalpur centre of JeM, spread over 15 acres, is run by de-facto chief Abdul Rauf Asgar and the area has residential houses of JeM founder Masood Azhar and other family members.

The Ministry of External Affairs on Operation Sindoor is expected to begin at 5.30 PM IST.

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting in a statement said: "In the interest of national security, all OTT platforms, media streaming platforms and intermediaries operating in India are advised to discontinue the web-series, films, songs, podcasts and other streaming media content, whether made available on a subscription based model or otherwise, having its origins in Pakistan with immediate effect."

Indian arm forces reiterated their commitments to de-escaltion provided it is respected by the Pakistan military, Wing Commander Vyomika Singh said in the MEA press conference.

Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said that the attack on April 22 in Pahalgam was the original escalation.

"It is pak which escalated on April 22, we are only responding. If there is an attempt for futher escalation, it will be responded to at an appropriate domain, the choice is pakistan's," he said.

In the MEA presser, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said that using the name of The Resistance Front (TRF), the military organisation involved in the Pahalgam attack was rejected by Pakistan during the UNSC meeting earlier.

Foreign Secy Misri said: "India Only Responding To Original Escalation, Says No Military Targets Affected, Only Terrorists Infrastructure Hit."

Foreign secy Misri said that all our strikes were on terrorist infrastructure, not on civilians. "There were civilians drapped in the national flag. We targeted only military infrastructure. Individuals attacked in these facilities were terrorists and giving terrorists a state funeral would be a practice in Pakistan," he added.  

Pakistan's claim of attack on religious site is false, we only attacked military sites, says Foreign Secy Misri. "Pakistan on their side are misusing the religious sites. They attacked on sites religious to Sikh community, and three individuals were killed in those attacks," he added.

"Over the last year and a half to two years, India has been in communication with the Government of Pakistan regarding negotiations over the Indus Waters Treaty of 1960 and its reassessment," stated Misri, adding the Pakistan has not come to the table for dialogue and is the one violating the treaty by creating legal roadblocks for India," says Secy Misri.

Foreign Secy Misri said that claims of attack on the Neelam-Jheelam dam in Pakistan occupied Kashmir are false, secy Misri said. "We targeted only military infrastructure," he added.

Foreign secy Misri said that he is unaware of any conversation between the national security advisors (NSA) of India and Pakistan. Earlier, a minister from Pakistan claimed that the NSA of both the nations had spoken to each other.

Foreign Secy Misri said that statements and support by world leaders on India is a statement in itself.

"Statements made by the world and the sentiment they carry that is the support for India. There is wide recognition of the India's right to response to these attacks on self-defense. These statements speak for itself," he said in the press conference.

World Bank Group President Ajay Banga met Prime Minister Narendra Modi today, days after India suspended the Indus Waters Treaty with Pakistan in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack. The meeting comes after India carried out airstrikes on terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir.

Authorities in the Union Territory of Ladakh on Thursday prohibited flying of drones or Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) in Leh and Kargil districts, citing credible inputs and security concerns about their “potential misuse” by anti-national elements.

The order prohibiting the flying of drones and UAVs by locals, tourists, or private persons was given by the concerned district magistrates with a warning that any violation of the order shall attract strict legal action under relevant laws.

In almost identical orders, district magistrate of Leh, Santosh Sukhadeve, and district magistrate of Kargil, Shrikant Balasaheb Suse, said they were issued ex-parte in the interest of public safety and security and shall remain in force until further notice.

The separate orders were issued a day after Indian armed forces carried out missile strikes against terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

"In view of the likelihood of threats to public safety, security installations, and the general public, the order said the Superintendent of Police, Leh has requested for issuing orders prohibiting flying of drones and UAVs by the general public and tourists," the deputy commissioner of Leh said.

Commenting on the evolving situation amid heightening Indo-Pak tensions, Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren said, "Several decisions have been taken by the Centre and the armed forces; we will do our best to keep the country's unity intact."

IPL match between Punjab Kings and Mumbai Indians has been shifted to Ahmedabad from Dharamshala, the league said in a statement. "The venue change has been necessitated due to logistical challenges," it said.

PM Narendra Modi chaired a high-level meeting with Secretaries of various Ministries and Departments of the Government of India on May 8 to review national preparedness and inter-ministerial coordination in light of recent developments concerning national security.

PM Modi stressed the need for seamless coordination among ministries and agencies to uphold operational continuity and institutional resilience.

China on Thursday urged India and Pakistan to exercise restraint and refrain from taking actions that may “further complicate” the situation, as it asked the two neighbours to act in the “larger interests of peace and stability”.

During a media briefing here, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said that Beijing is concerned about the current developments, PTI reported.

“We urge both sides to act in the larger interest of peace and stability, observe international law, including the UN Charter, remain calm, exercise restraint and refrain from taking actions that may further complicate the situation,” he said without elaborating.

“We stand ready to work with the rest of the international community to continue playing a constructive role in easing the current tensions,” he added.

Amidst heightened Indo-Pak tensions, heavy aerial firing reported in Jammu.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio called Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday and stressed on the need for India and Pakistan to work closely to de-escalate their conflict, Sharif’s office said in a statement.

- Reuters

Amid escalating tensions between India and Pakistan, security has been beefed up in Himachal Pradesh’s districts bordering Punjab, including Hamirpur, Una and Bilaspur, police said to PTI.

Security has been stepped up at all border points with Punjab as a precautionary measure; vehicles entering the state are being checked, and teams have been deployed to keep a vigil on suspicious elements, Bilaspur Superintendent of Police Sandeep Dhawal said.

With famous temples like Baba Balak Nath, Maa Chintpurni and Maa Naina Devi located in Hamirpur, Una, and Bilaspur districts, police have intensified security checks there, an official spokesperson told PTI.

Police patrolling on the premises of the temples and their surrounding areas have been intensified while devotees have been asked to remain alert, officials said.

Complete blackout being observed in Jammu after Pakistan made an attempt to target the city's airport, PTI reported.

A complete blackout has been enforced in Amritsar, Punjab.

The Punjab government on Thursday set up a control room to oversee the situation on the ground, as the tension between India and Pakistan escalated, PTI reported.

The revenue disaster management control room has set up landline phone numbers 0172-2741803 and 0172-2749901 to be contacted by the general public in case of an emergency, a government spokesperson said.

A complete blackout has been enforced in J&K's Udhampur, ANI reported.