Amid escalating tensions along the India-Pakistan border, the Indian Army’s air defence system shot down a Pakistani F-16 fighter jet and two JF-17s following Islamabad’s attacks on multiple locations in Jammu and Punjab. Several civilian areas, including Jammu city, Udhampur, Akhnoor, Pathankot, and Gurdaspur, were targeted. Drone attacks were intercepted across Jammu, with drones shot down near Jammu University, Pathankot, and Akhnoor. A drone strike also hit Jammu airport. In response, Indian forces have launched counter-operations. Sirens blared across border towns as Indian air defence continues to intercept incoming missiles and UAVs. The situation remains tense and rapidly developing. (PC: India Today)

As tensions rise between India and Pakistan following the deadly Pahalgam attack, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio are engaged in high-level talks. The discussions come as part of diplomatic efforts to address the escalating conflict. In a related development, Nikki Haley, former US Ambassador to the UN, voiced strong support for India’s right to self-defence, condemning Pakistan for its support of terrorism. Haley criticized Pakistan's attempts to portray itself as a victim, stressing that backing terrorist activities is unacceptable on the global stage. (PC: Reuters)

China’s foreign ministry has denied Pakistan’s claim of using China-made J-10C fighter jets to shoot down Indian warplanes during recent tensions. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had stated that the J-10C jets were used against Indian Rafale fighters. However, Chinese spokesperson Lin Jian responded that they were "not familiar with the matter." Meanwhile, India successfully deployed its S-400 ‘Sudarshan Chakra’ air defence systems to neutralize multiple aerial threats, including drones and missiles targeting key military bases across northern and western India. India’s advanced systems thwarted Pakistan’s aerial assault on May 7-8, 2025. (PC: Business Today)

India has firmly countered Pakistan’s attempt to paint it as the aggressor following ‘Operation Sindoor’, which eliminated 100 terrorists across Pakistan and PoK. The strikes came in direct response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, where 26 Hindu tourists were brutally killed. “Pahalgam was the original escalation,” asserted Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, underlining that India’s action was precise, non-escalatory, and aimed solely at terror infrastructure. Despite India avoiding civilian or military targets, Pakistan responded with indiscriminate shelling along the LoC, killing 16 civilians. India’s message is clear: the provocation began with terrorism, and the choice to de-escalate rests with Pakistan. (PC: PTI)

In a major move following Operation Sindoor, the Indian government has banned all Pakistani-origin content from OTT platforms. The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting issued an advisory on May 8, 2025, directing platforms to remove Pakistani films, web series, songs, and podcasts, citing national security and public order concerns. This decision comes after the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, which killed 26 civilians. The ban was enforced under the IT Rules 2021, aimed at blocking content that could threaten India’s sovereignty. Several Pakistani artists’ social media accounts have also been restricted within India. (PC: Times Now)

In response to rising India-Pakistan tensions following India's Operation Sindoor, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar held a high-level meeting on Thursday to intensify security near the Nepal border. Top officials, including the Chief Secretary and DGP, briefed him on preparedness. All leaves of administrative, police, disaster management, and health personnel have been cancelled. Officials have been placed on high alert to monitor cross-border movement and prevent any security breach. The state is coordinating efforts to ensure public safety amid concerns of potential retaliation and heightened regional instability. (PC: Oneindia)

India rejected Pakistan’s claims that civilians were killed in its May 7 strikes under Operation Sindoor, citing images of coffins draped in Pakistani flags and attended by army personnel. “It’s odd that the funerals of civilians are carried out with the coffins being draped in Pakistani flags and state honours being accorded,” said Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri. The funerals, held in Muridke, reportedly included Jamaat-ud-Dawah members. Misri added, “We targeted carefully selected terrorist infrastructure.” He dismissed Pakistan’s accusations that religious sites were hit, stating, “Pakistan is misusing religious sites to radicalise and train terrorists.” (PC: Hindustan Times)

In a swift diplomatic move, Saudi Arabia’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Adel Al-Jubeir, arrived in New Delhi on May 7, just hours after India launched Operation Sindoor targeting terrorist camps in Pakistan. Al-Jubeir met with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, who said the two discussed India's firm stance on counterterrorism. The visit coincided with that of Iran’s Foreign Minister, Seyed Abbas Araghchi, who also urged de-escalation between India and Pakistan. The unannounced visit reflects Saudi Arabia’s keen interest in regional stability following the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 civilians in Indian-administered Kashmir. (PC: The Hindu)  

A drone strike hit Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium just hours before the scheduled Pakistan Super League (PSL) match between Peshawar Zalmi and Karachi Kings on Thursday evening. The incident occurred amid escalating military tensions between India and Pakistan following Operation Sindoor. Sources said parts of the stadium were damaged, forcing an emergency security response. Earlier, India had targeted Pakistan's air defence infrastructure in Lahore in retaliation to Islamabad's failed attempt to strike 15 Indian military targets. Reports indicate the use of Israeli-made HAROP drones against China-supplied HQ-9 systems. Pakistan confirmed multiple injuries and one civilian death across various cities.

India carried out drone and missile strikes on Pakistani territory, targeting militant infrastructure in retaliation for a deadly attack on Hindu tourists in Indian-controlled Kashmir. The Indian military used Israeli-made Harop drones, reportedly damaging air defense systems near Lahore and injuring four Pakistani soldiers. Pakistan responded by claiming it shot down 25 drones and reported civilian casualties. Both countries exchanged artillery fire across the Line of Control, resulting in civilian deaths. Diplomatic ties have further deteriorated, with evacuations ordered near border regions and heightened concerns of conflict between the two nuclear-armed nations.