Rajasthan and Punjab on High Alert- In the wake of India’s bold and targeted missile strikes under Operation Sindoor against terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK), border states Rajasthan and Punjab have been placed under high alert. The Indian government’s swift military response came following the brutal Pahalgam terror attack that left 26 civilians dead. As security forces brace for potential retaliation, both civil and military preparations are being intensified across key western regions of India.
Heightened Alert Across Border States
Rajasthan, which shares a 1,037-kilometre border with Pakistan, has completely sealed its border. The Border Security Force (BSF) has been given shoot-on-sight orders for any suspicious activity near the frontier. Strict restrictions have also been imposed on civilian movement in border-adjacent villages. Only local residents are being allowed access in these sensitive areas, and identification checks have been tightened.
In Punjab, similar measures have been enforced. All police personnel are on active duty, with leaves cancelled and law enforcement deployed strategically in vulnerable zones. Public gatherings and political rallies have been restricted, and state authorities have issued advisories to remain alert but calm. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has cancelled all government programmes and is reportedly in constant coordination with central agencies.
Military Readiness at Peak Levels
The Indian Air Force (IAF) remains on high operational alert. Airports in key western cities—Jodhpur, Kishangarh, and Bikaner—have temporarily suspended flight operations until May 9 to make way for continuous air patrols and emergency combat response. Sukhoi-30 MKI fighter jets are conducting aerial surveillance and readiness drills along a wide stretch from Sri Ganganagar to the Rann of Kutch.
Missile defence systems have been activated and integrated with radar networks across the western sector. Anti-drone mechanisms, including radio-frequency jammers and anti-drone guns, are fully operational near the border. These are aimed at neutralizing any potential surveillance or offensive UAV activity from across the border.
Blackout orders have been issued in Jaisalmer and Jodhpur between midnight and 4 a.m., reducing light pollution and visibility from the air. Such blackouts are tactically significant—they impair the ability of enemy aircraft to accurately identify and strike targets.
Civil Preparedness and Public Safety Measures
To minimize civilian risk, schools in Bikaner, Sri Ganganagar, Jaisalmer, and Barmer have been closed, and ongoing exams postponed. Emergency evacuation plans are ready to be activated in case of further escalation. Civil hospitals in the region have also been placed on standby, with additional medical supplies and personnel mobilized.
Indian Railways has cancelled staff leaves in the region to ensure operational continuity, particularly in case of mass transportation needs during emergencies.
Operation Sindoor: Strategic, Targeted, and Proportionate
The current security alert follows India’s precision missile strikes on 24 terror-linked targets located in Pakistan and PoK. The operation, codenamed Sindoor, was aimed solely at destroying terror training camps and logistical hubs belonging to Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed—two Pakistan-based terror outfits with a long history of cross-border militancy.
India has emphasized that the operation was surgical and restrained, avoiding Pakistani military installations to reduce chances of further escalation. “These were precise, intelligence-driven strikes against non-state actors responsible for the loss of innocent Indian lives,” said Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri. He described the action as “measured, non-escalatory, proportionate, and responsible.”
Pakistan Reacts, Tensions Rise
In response, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the strikes, calling them an “act of war” and vowing a “befitting reply.” Pakistan’s military has reportedly increased its surveillance along the Line of Control (LoC) and the International Border. Emergency cabinet meetings and military briefings have been convened in Islamabad.
However, India maintains that its actions fall within the ambit of self-defence under international law, particularly given the provocation and credible threat posed by continued terrorist infiltration.
Strategic and Political Implications
The current standoff underlines the fragile security environment in South Asia. While India’s Operation Sindoor marks a clear shift in its counter-terror doctrine—with a heavier emphasis on proactive deterrence—it also raises the stakes in a volatile nuclear neighborhood.
With both sides on alert, diplomatic channels remain essential to preventing a wider conflict. In the meantime, India has signaled it will remain vigilant and unrelenting in protecting its citizens and national integrity.
