On the night of May 8, 2025, the India-Pakistan border, long a flashpoint of regional tension, erupted into heightened conflict as Pakistan launched a series of aggressive drone and missile attacks targeting northern and western India, including Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Rajasthan, and Gujarat. This marked the second consecutive night of hostilities, following similar assaults on May 7-8, 2025, signalling a dangerous escalation in bilateral relations. India’s formidable S-400 air defence system, backed by robust military preparedness, neutralised these threats, intercepting missiles, downing drones, and, in a significant blow, shooting down two Pakistani JF-17 fighter jets, as confirmed by Pakistan’s defence establishment. The situation remains precarious, with India enforcing stringent security measures—blackouts, school closures, and flight suspensions—while maintaining a high state of alert along its borders.
Pakistan’s Loss of JF-17 Fighter Jets
A significant development emerged when Pakistan’s defence spokesperson acknowledged the loss of two JF-17 fighter jets, shot down by Indian forces during active duty. The JF-17, a lightweight, fourth-generation multirole fighter developed jointly by Pakistan and China, was designed to replace Pakistan’s ageing fleet of A-5C, F-7P/PG, Mirage III, and Mirage 5 aircraft. The spokesperson described the loss as both numerical and emotional, underscoring the jets’ strategic importance to the Pakistan Air Force. The downing of these jets, confirmed amid Pakistan’s escalated attacks, marks a decisive setback for Islamabad and a testament to India’s air defence prowess. The spokesperson hinted at a forthcoming response, stating that the escalation has taken a “decisive turn,” raising fears of further retaliation.
Pakistan’s Coordinated Attacks
Late Thursday night, Pakistan executed a multi-pronged offensive, deploying drones and missiles aimed at critical military infrastructure in Pathankot, Punjab. The Pathankot Air Force Station was a primary target, alongside other strategic locations.
According to India’s Ministry of Defence, Pakistan’s arsenal included suicide drones and ballistic missiles, intended to strike military bases and airfields. Simultaneously, Pakistan expanded its attacks to Jammu and Kashmir, targeting Jammu airport and military installations in Satwari, Samba, R.S. Pura, and Arnia sectors. Heavy shelling was reported along the Line of Control (LoC) in Kupwara and Baramulla, with Indian forces engaging in retaliatory fire.
In Rajasthan, Pakistan launched drone attacks on military bases in Jaisalmer, with missiles fired at airbases in Nal (Bikaner), Uttarlai (Barmer), and Phalodi. The Indian Army, supported by the S-400 system, intercepted these threats mid-air, with explosions and flashes of light reported in Jaisalmer’s skies. Gujarat’s Bhuj and Kutch regions also faced drone incursions, with a notable explosion near the India-Pakistan border in Kutch caused by a suspected object striking a high-tension power line.
The attacks followed a pattern established the previous night, when Pakistan targeted eight military installations in Punjab and Chandigarh, including Pathankot, Amritsar, Kapurthala, Jalandhar, Adampur, Ludhiana, Bathinda, and Chandigarh. These locations house five airbases and six cantonments, making them high-value targets. Debris from Pakistani rockets was recovered in several areas, including Amritsar’s Makhhanwindi village, where Punjab Police personnel were photographed inspecting the remnants.
India’s Robust Defence: The S-400 System in Action
India’s ability to thwart these attacks is largely attributed to its deployment of the Russian-made S-400 air defence system along its western borders. The system, capable of tracking and neutralising aerial threats at long ranges, was activated as soon as Pakistani drones and missiles appeared on radar. On both nights, the S-400 system successfully intercepted and destroyed incoming threats mid-air, preventing any damage to infrastructure or loss of life. The Ministry of Defence confirmed that the system neutralised missiles and drones targeting over 15 military installations across northern and western India, including Awantipora, Srinagar, and Bhuj.
India’s counteraction extended beyond defence. On Thursday morning, Indian forces launched a retaliatory strike using Israeli-supplied Harpy drones, destroying Pakistan’s air defence system in Lahore. This operation, part of India’s broader response to the Pahalgam attack earlier in 2025, was named “Operation Sindoor.” The operation targeted terrorist hideouts, including those of Jaish-e-Mohammed in Bahawalpur and Lashkar-e-Taiba in Muridke, reducing key facilities to rubble. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh praised the precision of Operation Sindoor, noting that it eliminated terrorist targets without civilian casualties.
Security Measures and Regional Impact
The escalating tensions prompted India to implement stringent security measures across affected regions. Blackouts were imposed in multiple cities to prevent targeting by Pakistani drones, which rely on visual cues. In Punjab, blackouts covered Pathankot, Amritsar, Firozpur, Jalandhar, Gurdaspur, Kapurthala, Hoshiarpur, Mohali, Chandigarh, and Panchkula in Haryana. In Rajasthan, Barmer, Bikaner, Jaisalmer, and Sri Ganganagar observed nightly blackouts from 9 PM to 4 AM, with markets closing by 7 PM and residents urged to stay indoors. Jammu and Kashmir saw blackouts in Jammu, Udhampur, Kishtwar, Akhnoor, Samba, Srinagar, and Anantnag, while Bhuj and Kutch in Gujarat followed suit.
Schools were closed in seven Punjab districts—Amritsar, Gurdaspur, Pathankot, Fazilka, Firozpur, Tarn Taran, and Ludhiana—with Amritsar’s closures extending from May 9 to 11 and Gurdaspur’s until further notice. In Rajasthan, schools in Jodhpur, Phalodi, Jaisalmer, Barmer, Sri Ganganagar, and Bikaner were shut, with colleges and exams in Jodhpur also suspended. Jammu and Kashmir closed educational institutions in Jammu, Samba, Kathua, Rajouri, and Poonch on May 9.
Flight operations were severely disrupted, with 27 airports across seven states closed until May 9 or 10, including Srinagar, Jammu, Amritsar, Jodhpur, Bikaner, and Bhuj. Indigo Airlines cancelled all flights to Bikaner, and four flights from Jaipur were scrapped. The North-Western Railway cancelled leaves for its staff, ensuring operational readiness.
Pakistan faced significant domestic consequences. The loss of two JF-17 jets, coupled with Indian drone strikes damaging infrastructure in Lahore, Rawalpindi, and Gujranwala, strained its military capabilities. A Rawalpindi cricket stadium was hit, cancelling a Pakistan Super League match. Pakistan cancelled flights from Karachi, Lahore, and Sialkot, and placed Islamabad hospitals on high alert, reflecting the crisis’s severity.
Ground-Level Response and Public Safety
Local authorities and security forces acted swiftly to manage the crisis. Punjab Police cancelled leaves for all personnel from May 7, allowing exemptions only in exceptional cases with senior approval. In Rajasthan, police, doctors, and medical staff faced similar restrictions, with hospitals in Pali covering windows to comply with blackout protocols. The Border Security Force (BSF) and Indian Army sealed the 1,037-km Rajasthan-Pakistan border, with fighter jets from over five western airbases conducting continuous patrols. The BSF also reported killing an infiltrator in Firozpur on May 7 and arresting six suspects in Jaisalmer.
Public safety measures included banning fireworks and drone activities in Bikaner and Sri Ganganagar, restricting movement near critical infrastructure like the Jawai Dam in Pali, and evacuating public spaces. In Dharamshala, an IPL match was halted, and the stadium’s emergency gates were opened following reports of the Pathankot attack. In Jaipur, a bomb threat at SMS Stadium prompted an investigation by the Bomb Disposal Squad and Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS).
International Reactions and Diplomatic Efforts
UN General Assembly President Philemon Yang urged India and Pakistan to resolve disputes through dialogue, condemning attacks on civilians and infrastructure. Belarus, Ukraine, and Singapore issued statements advocating for peaceful negotiations, with Singapore advising its citizens to avoid Jammu and Kashmir and Pakistan. Israel instructed its citizens to leave the region immediately, while US President Donald Trump offered mediation, urging both nations to halt their “tit-for-tat” actions.
Diplomatically, India’s Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar warned Pakistan of decisive retaliation if further attacks occurred, emphasising that India’s actions were measured and not intended to escalate tensions. Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif spoke with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, while Saudi Arabia’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Adel Aljubeir made an unannounced visit to meet Jaishankar. India’s Foreign Ministry reported 13 deaths and 59 injuries in Poonch due to Pakistan’s ceasefire violations, underscoring the human toll of the conflict.
Domestic Political and Social Response
Within India, the government and military leadership maintained close coordination. Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with top officials, including Army Chief Upendra Dwivedi and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, to review operations and ensure readiness. An all-party meeting, attended by Home Minister Amit Shah and opposition leaders Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi, discussed Operation Sindoor’s implications. The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting banned Pakistani content on OTT platforms, reflecting a broader crackdown on cultural exchanges.
Public sentiment was mixed, with some expressing pride in India’s military response. Shiv Sena posters in Mumbai praised Modi and the armed forces, while Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy participated in a “National Unity Rally” against terrorism. However, concerns about safety persisted, with reports of red objects in Jammu-Akhnoor’s skies and explosion sounds in Amritsar and Jalandhar fueling anxiety. Amritsar police attributed these to possible sonic booms from fighter jets, denying confirmed attacks.
Pakistan’s Internal Fallout
Pakistan’s aggressive posture had domestic repercussions. The Pakistani military admitted to four soldiers injured in Indian drone attacks on Karachi and Lahore, with videos circulating of damaged infrastructure in Lahore and Rawalpindi. A cricket stadium in Rawalpindi was hit, cancelling a Pakistan Super League match and prompting foreign players to seek immediate departure. Pakistan cancelled flights from Karachi, Lahore, and Sialkot airports, and hospitals in Islamabad were placed on high alert. Pakistani media claimed an Indian drone attack in Gujranwala, further stoking tensions.
Broader Implications
The ongoing conflict highlights the fragility of India-Pakistan relations, particularly in the context of the Pahalgam attack, which prompted India’s Operation Sindoor. The operation’s name, chosen over “Mangalsutra” by PM Modi, symbolised a response to the emotional and cultural impact of the attack on Hindu communities. Al-Qaeda’s South Asia branch (AQIS) exacerbated tensions by calling for jihad against India, raising fears of further terrorist activity.
India’s strategic deployment of the S-400 system and its retaliatory strikes underscore its commitment to defending its sovereignty while avoiding broader escalation. However, Pakistan’s continued shelling of residential areas, as reported in Poonch, and its deployment of F-16 and JF-17 jets along the border signal a readiness for further confrontation. The sealing of the Rajasthan border, activation of air defence systems in major cities, and heavy military presence on both sides indicate a prolonged period of heightened alert.
As of May 8, 2025, the India-Pakistan border remains a flashpoint, with Indian forces successfully countering Pakistan’s drone and missile attacks through advanced defence systems and targeted retaliatory strikes.
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