In a swift and strategic counterstrike, the Indian Air Force targeted Pakistan’s crippled Lahore base hours after neutralizing its air defence systems. This retaliation follows Pakistan’s drone and missile attacks on Indian military bases in Jammu, Pathankot, and Jaisalmer. Earlier, India’s S-400 air defence system successfully intercepted numerous projectiles, including kamikaze drones. Israeli-made HARPY drones had already taken out Pakistan’s Chinese-made HQ-9 systems. Indian forces also downed a Pakistani AWACS, one F-16, and two JF-17 jets. Despite heavy losses, Pakistan launched fresh attacks, prompting India’s powerful response, signaling escalated tensions along the border. (PC: India Today)

India launched retaliatory strikes on Pakistan’s capital Islamabad, along with Lahore and Sialkot, late Thursday, after successfully thwarting multiple Pakistani missile and drone attacks targeting Indian cities such as Jammu, Jaisalmer, and Pathankot. Blackouts were imposed in key border areas, including Srinagar, Jammu, and Amritsar. The attacks were in response to Pakistan’s military attempts to target 15 Indian cities, which were neutralized using advanced defense systems. The strikes come after India’s Operation Sindoor targeted terror camps in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. The ongoing tension follows the Pahalgam terror attack and rising hostilities between the two nations. (PC: News18)

Amid rising tensions between India and Pakistan, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio urged immediate de-escalation in separate calls with India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif. The US emphasized support for direct dialogue following Pakistan’s missile and drone strikes targeting Indian border states, which India successfully intercepted. India retaliated by downing Pakistani jets and targeting key sites. The conflict follows India’s Operation Sindoor, launched in response to a deadly terror attack in Pahalgam. Heavy shelling, blackouts, and military alerts continue across affected regions, raising global concerns over further escalation. (PC: India Today)

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)