Context : Escalation of Hostilities
- Cross-border aggression: Pakistan violated Indian airspace for the second day, prompting heightened Indian defensive actions.
- Armed drones & missiles: Multiple aerial intrusions using drones—many suspected to be armed—were reported across strategic zones.
Relevance : GS 3(Internal Security)
Indian Response & Security Measures
- Repulsion of attacks: Indian armed forces effectively repelled drone/missile attacks using air defence systems.
- Infiltration thwarted: BSF neutralised seven terrorists attempting to infiltrate through Samba (J&K).
- High-level meeting: PM Modi chaired a top-level security meeting involving key defence and intelligence leaders to assess the situation.
Civilian Protection and Displacement
- Blackouts and sirens: Implemented in J&K, Punjab, Rajasthan to reduce visibility for aerial threats and to alert citizens.
- Evacuations: Civilians from areas like Uri’s Razarwani were moved to safer locations.
- Advisories issued: Public instructed to remain indoors and follow safety protocols.
Civilian Casualties & Damage
- Fatalities: Three civilians killed—including two students and one woman—in mortar shelling in Baramulla and Poonch.
- Injuries: Armed drone strike injured a family in Ferozpur, Punjab.
- Structural damage: Shell landed behind Christ School in Poonch, highlighting danger to civilian and religious infrastructure.
Strategic Targets Under Threat
- Drone attempts near critical zones: Jammu airport, military bases in Pathankot, Nagrota, and others were targeted.
- Multiple regions affected: Aerial objects were spotted in 26+ locations from J&K to Gujarat (e.g., Bhuj, Barmer, Fazilka).
Political and Administrative Involvement
- Statements by leadership: J&K CM Omar Abdullah and Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri acknowledged civilian toll and urged calm.
- Government preparedness: Nationwide coordination evident through multi-agency response and national-level security discussions.
Implications
- Security readiness: Highlights growing threat from low-cost, high-impact drone warfare and the need for robust counter-drone capabilities.
- Border vulnerability: Reemphasizes the strategic sensitivity of border regions in Punjab, J&K, Rajasthan, and Gujarat.
- Civil-military synergy: Civilian safety and communication systems (blackouts, sirens, evacuation) have been swiftly activated.
