India’s Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri briefed envoys from 13 countries on Operation Sindoor, emphasizing that the precision strikes were a response to the Pahalgam terror attack, not an escalation. Misri stated that nine terror camps were hit using air, naval, and ground assets, killing over 80 terrorists linked to JeM, LeT, and Hizbul Mujahideen. Responding to concerns from the UK about mosque targeting, Misri clarified only terror-linked complexes were hit. He reiterated that the strikes, lasting just 25 minutes, avoided civilian or military infrastructure. India vowed to respond if Pakistan retaliates, calling the operation a decisive move against terrorism. (PC: India Today)

India carried out nationwide civil defence mock drills on Wednesday to test preparedness against emerging threats, amid escalating tensions with Pakistan. Dubbed ‘Operation Abhyaas,’ the drills featured blackout simulations in cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Patna, and Surat, alongside air raid sirens, evacuation protocols, and emergency response training. The Centre ordered these drills following Operation Sindoor, in which the Indian Armed Forces struck nine terror camps across Pakistan. Key locations, including Connaught Place and India Gate, temporarily went dark as authorities assessed readiness for potential war-like emergencies. Officials stated the objective is to bolster public safety amid evolving national security challenges. (PC: PTI)

Families of the Pahalgam terror attack victims expressed gratitude for India’s retaliatory Operation Sindoor, which targeted terror bases in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Corporal Tage Hailyang’s family in Arunachal Pradesh said the action brought a sense of justice but urged continued caution. Hailyang, an IAF corporal, was killed while on vacation. His widow remains in shock. In Visakhapatnam, the family of J S Chandramouli, a retired SBI employee also killed in the attack, echoed similar sentiments. While grieving, they acknowledged the operation as a necessary response, seeking justice and peace through accountability of the perpetrators.

Following India’s Operation Sindoor targeting terror camps in Pakistan and PoK, Pakistan’s National Security Committee, led by PM Shehbaz Sharif, authorised the military to take "corresponding actions." Sharif denounced the Indian airstrikes as a "heinous act of aggression" and vowed they would "not go unpunished." Pakistan accused India of targeting civilians and violating sovereignty, rejecting claims of terror bases. It cited Article 51 of the UN Charter, asserting its right to self-defence. Meanwhile, Pakistan initiated heavy shelling along the LoC, killing 10 and injuring 41. Tensions escalate as Islamabad calls for international intervention and blames India for regional instability. (PC: India Today)

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned India’s missile strikes on terror targets in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and Pakistan, calling it an "act of war." Sharif stated that India attacked five locations, including Bahawalpur, Kotli, and Muzaffarabad. The Pakistani military responded with a threat of retaliation, with spokesperson DG ISPR asserting that India’s “temporary pleasure” would be replaced with “enduring grief.” In response, Sharif convened a meeting of Pakistan’s National Security Committee to discuss the situation. Tensions between the two nuclear-armed nations have escalated following India’s Operation Sindoor. (PC: India Today)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his first public reaction to the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty with Pakistan, stated, “India’s water will flow for India, stay in India, and serve India.” Speaking at an ABP News event, Modi emphasized that the move followed the deadly terror attack in Pahalgam on April 22, which killed 26 civilians. The Cabinet Committee on Security decided to halt the treaty as a response to cross-border terrorism. Modi criticized previous governments for hesitating to take tough decisions, adding, “The country moves forward when we keep the nation first, not when we fear losing votes.”

Russia has accused Ukraine of launching a drone attack on Moscow just days before its 9 May Victory Day parade. Authorities temporarily shut four major airports, though no casualties were reported. President Putin has called for a three-day ceasefire starting 8 May, but Ukraine has not agreed, seeking a longer truce instead. President Zelensky dismissed the ceasefire as "theatrical," warning that Ukraine cannot guarantee the safety of foreign visitors to Moscow. Kyiv reported downing 54 Russian drones overnight and confirmed several casualties from strikes in Odesa and Sumy. Tensions remain high ahead of the 80th WWII victory anniversary.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed the newly signed India-UK Free Trade Agreement as a “historic milestone that will catalyse trade, investment, growth, job creation and innovation” in both nations. Finalised during a phone call between PM Modi and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, the landmark pact lowers tariffs on goods like whisky, lamb, and auto parts, while establishing import quotas. The agreement also strengthens economic and people-to-people ties under the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. PM Starmer called it a key step in his “Plan for Change” to build a stronger, more secure UK economy. Modi invited Starmer to visit India soon.

Seven Pakistani soldiers were killed on Tuesday in an IED explosion targeting their vehicle in Balochistan’s Kalat district, according to Pakistan's military. The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), a separatist militant group, claimed responsibility for the deadly attack. This follows a series of recent violent incidents in the region, including the abduction of five police officers after an assault on a prison van last weekend. Militants have also torched government buildings and a bank. Balochistan, a resource-rich province, remains a hotspot for separatist insurgency, with frequent attacks on state forces and infrastructure projects, particularly those with foreign investment ties. (PC: Hindustan Times)

Amid heightened tensions with India following the deadly Pahalgam terror attack, Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif issued a chilling threat, saying, “If our existence is in danger, then either we survive, or no one does.” His statement, seen as an indirect nuclear threat, drew sharp criticism. Asif also compared India's stance to Israel’s actions in Gaza, accusing India of pushing Pakistan toward conflict. The remarks come after the April 22 attack that killed 26 tourists, prompting India to consider military options. BJP leaders in India called Asif’s comments “hollow threats,” saying Pakistan’s leadership is panicked and desperate. (PC: Reuters)