In Rajasthan, which shares a 1,037-kilometer border with Pakistan, state authorities have implemented stringent security measures. The Border Security Force (BSF) has been granted shoot-on-sight orders for any suspicious movement along the border. All police leaves have been cancelled and restrictions on public gatherings imposed to minimize risk and ensure readiness.
Air defence preparedness has also been ramped up. The Indian Air Force is maintaining heightened aerial surveillance, and flight operations from key western sector airports in Jodhpur, Bikaner, and Kishangarh have been suspended until May 9. Sukhoi-30 MKI fighter jets have been conducting round-the-clock patrols from the Sri Ganganagar sector down to the Rann of Kutch. Missile defence systems have reportedly been activated as part of a precautionary protocol.
In addition to aerial vigilance, ground-level measures have also intensified. Anti-drone systems have been deployed along critical zones of the border, given the rising threat from low-flying unmanned aerial vehicles. Local authorities in districts like Jaisalmer and Jodhpur have issued blackout orders between midnight and 4 a.m., making it more difficult for enemy aircraft to locate and strike targets under cover of darkness.
Schools in border districts including Bikaner, Barmer, Sri Ganganagar, and Jaisalmer have been closed indefinitely, and ongoing school examinations have been postponed. Railway and law enforcement personnel have been ordered to remain on duty, with all leaves revoked to ensure full strength in critical areas.
Punjab, which also shares an extensive and sensitive border with Pakistan, is mirroring the alert status of Rajasthan. The state has cancelled all police leaves and imposed restrictions on large public gatherings. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has suspended all government events in light of the escalating border situation. Emergency readiness protocols have been activated across border-adjacent districts, and coordination with central forces has intensified.
These measures come in the immediate aftermath of India’s execution of 24 missile strikes across nine different locations in Pakistan and PoK. The Indian government clarified that the operation was narrowly focused on eliminating terrorist training infrastructure, not military assets. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri stated that the strike was "measured, non-escalatory, proportionate, and responsible," aimed at disabling active terrorists and disrupting plans to infiltrate Indian territory.
Operation Sindoor targeted terror bases reportedly run by Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Taiba groups long accused of orchestrating cross-border terrorism. The Resistance Front, which claimed responsibility for the Pahalgam killings, is believed to be a proxy for Lashkar-e-Taiba.
Despite India’s clarification, the response from Islamabad has been combative. Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the missile strikes as an “act of war,” stating that Pakistan reserves the right to respond in kind. The Pakistani military has reportedly raised its alert level and initiated internal evaluations of its readiness to retaliate if required. Meanwhile, mock drills simulating air raids and rescue operations have been conducted in parts of Rajasthan and Punjab. Civilian evacuation plans in sensitive areas have been dusted off, and shelters are being readied should the need arise.
The coming days are expected to remain tense as both nations monitor the evolving situation. With diplomatic backchannels reportedly open, international stakeholders are also closely watching the aftermath of Operation Sindoor, urging both sides to exercise restraint and prioritize de-escalation even amid legitimate security responses. India maintains that the operation was essential for national security and was executed in direct response to the attack in Pahalgam, which was among the deadliest in recent times. The government continues to assert that its actions were aimed solely at preventing further loss of innocent lives and dismantling the infrastructure of terror.
