In a dramatic response to Indian military strikes on terror camps, Pakistan has declared a “state of emergency” in its Punjab province and closed all educational institutions. The government has also canceled medical staff leaves, signaling heightened security measures following the attacks.
The Indian Armed Forces launched the precision strikes at 1:05 AM on Wednesday as part of Operation Sindoor. The attacks targeted nine locations in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) in retaliation for the recent Pahalgam massacre, which claimed 26 lives.
According to the Indian government, the operation was based on “credible intelligence” and aimed to “break the backbone of terrorism.” Hours after the strikes, Pakistan acknowledged the casualties, confirming 28 deaths, and announced that its armed forces were authorized to take retaliatory actions.
In response to the strikes, Pakistan placed all security agencies on high alert. Educational institutions in affected regions were shut down, while medical personnel were ordered to report for duty immediately. The Pakistani government also closed its airspace to all air traffic for 48 hours.
In India, emergency measures were taken along the borders. Civilians near the Line of Control (LoC) were evacuated to safety bunkers, and Home Minister Amit Shah recalled all paramilitary personnel from leave. Schools in several Indian districts bordering Pakistan, including those in Punjab and Rajasthan, were also closed.
The Kartarpur corridor, which connects the Darbar Sahib in Pakistan to Dera Baba Nanak in India, was shut down, along with 18 airports, including those in Srinagar, Leh, Jammu, Amritsar, and Chandigarh. The temporary closure of these airports affected over 450 flights.
As both nations brace for potential escalation, tensions remain high along the India-Pakistan border.
