The Ministries of Defence and External Affairs will hold a joint briefing at 10:30 AM on Saturday regarding Operation Sindoor, as tensions between India and Pakistan continue to intensify.
The briefing comes in the wake of Pakistan’s cross-border shelling on Saturday, which caused extensive damage to civilian areas in Jammu and Kashmir’s Rajouri district. The attack claimed the life of Additional District Development Commissioner Raj Kumar Thappa, whose home was directly hit. Expressing grief, J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah called Thappa a dedicated officer and lamented the tragic loss, saying he had just attended an official meeting the day before.
India responded swiftly with retaliatory strikes, targeting at least four airbases inside Pakistan in the early hours of Saturday. Intermittent firing continues along the Line of Control (LoC), according to government sources.
The Ministry of Defence confirmed sightings of drones—many suspected to be armed—at 26 locations along the International Border and LoC. These include Baramulla, Srinagar, Jammu, Pathankot, Ferozpur, Bhuj, and Jaisalmer, among others. One drone strike in Ferozpur injured members of a local family and prompted a rapid security response.
“The Indian Armed Forces are on high alert. All aerial threats are being tracked and neutralized using counter-drone systems,” the Defence Ministry said. It urged civilians in border regions to remain indoors and comply strictly with safety advisories. Though there is no call for panic, the situation remains under close and constant watch.
More details about Operation Sindoor—believed to be India’s coordinated response to recent escalations—are expected to be revealed during the scheduled briefing.